Chicago Universal Pre-K Study

This mixed-methods study examines the universal prekindergarten expansion in Chicago across 4 main outcomes: (1) access; (2) market; (3) quality, and (4) child outcomes. The study is conducted in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, and the Office of the Mayor. To date, we have focused on access and market and we will turn next to examining effects on quality and outcomes.  

The primary goal of this project is to inform pre-K policy decisions in Chicago. More broadly, our goal is that lessons learned from Chicago can serve as model for the nation as cities, states, and the federal government considers expanding public programming for four-year-old children.

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Publications:‍

Impact of the Chicago Universal pre-kindergarten expansion: Effects on pre-kindergarten capacity and enrollment and implications for equity (Article published in Early Childhood Research Quarterly)

Does the Impact of Universal Pre-K on Access Vary Based on Neighborhood Poverty Rates?

The Impact of Chicago’s Universal Prekindergarten Expansion on Access to School-Based Pre-K, 2023–24 Update

Pre-K Capacity and Enrollment in North Lawndale

Early Care and Education Trends in Chicago's 47th Ward

The Impact of Chicago’s Universal Prekindergarten Expansion on Access to School-Based Pre-K

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We are grateful to our funders for supporting this work: CME Group Foundation, Crown Foundation, Steans Family Foundation, Peterson Family Foundation, one anonymous funder, and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award (Grant #: 90YE0273-01-00). The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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