Starting Strong: Medium- and Longer-run Benefits of Mexico’s Universal Preschool Mandate

Starting Strong: Medium- and Longer-run Benefits of Mexico’s Universal Preschool Mandate

Authors: Jere R Behrman, Ricardo Gomez-Carrera, Susan W Parker, Petra E Todd, Weilong Zhang

Abstract: In the last two decades, a number of Latin American countries expanded preschool availability and made attendance compulsory. In 2002, Mexico launched an educational reform that mandated three years of preschool before entering primary school, gradually phasing-in the requirement. Using nationwide longitudinal administrative educational data, household survey data, and a quasi-experimental regression-discontinuity approach, this paper investigates the medium-term impacts (5-6 years after the reform, during primary school) and longer-term impacts on young adults of the 2004-2005 requirement to attend preschool for at least one year. Results show that the preschool mandate increased preschool years attended, enhanced fifth- and sixth-grade cognitive scores in math and Spanish, improved noncognitive skills, heightened student engagement, delayed primary-school entry, lowered failure rates, and led to greater schooling attainment for young adults nearly 20 years post-reform.

Seminar Notes

Venue

SOLE 2024

Objective

To understand the effect of the rollout of universal pre-primary school in Mexico

Importance

Most literature on preschool programs in US. This paper looks at a universal program in Mexico.

Background

Research shows early childhood education has positive effects, but some evidence of fadeout.

In 2002 Mexico mandated 3 years of pre-primary school, ages 3-5. Phase in 2004-2005 required kindergarten. 2005-2006 required kindergarten & preK4.

Rolled back to just kindergarten after 2008 (4 hrs a day)

Data & Key Variables

Ministry of education data 2006-2013

Medium-term impacts: primary school attendance, test scores (ENLACE)

Long term: college attainment, labor market outcomes - National Survey of Employment and Occupation (ENOE)

Methodology

RD estimator using birthdate cutoff. Children born in 1997 & 1998. Cutoff Sept 1, 1998. Also school cutoff date for some states.

Difference in discontinuity

Results

Increase in pre-primary school attendance and primary school test scores. Increase in some college. Increase in noncognitive skills, engagement in school @ 5th and 6th grade

Key Table/Figure