Early childhood education to promote health equity: A community guide systematic review

Context: Children in low-income and racial and ethnic minority families often experience delays in development by 3 years of age and may benefit from center-based early childhood education. Design: A meta-analysis on the effects of early childhood education by Kay and Pennucci best met Community Guide criteria and forms the basis of this review. Results: There were increases in intervention compared with control children in standardized test scores (median=0.29 SD) and high school graduation (median=0.20 SD) and decreases in grade retention (median=0.23 SD) and special education assignment (median=0.28 SD). There were decreases in crime (median=0.23 SD) and teen births (median=0.46 SD) and increases in emotional self-regulation (median=0.21 SD) and emotional development (median=0.04 SD). All effects were favorable, but not all were statistically significant. Effects were also long-lasting. Conclusions: Because many programs are designed to increase enrollment for high-risk students and communities, they are likely to advance health equity.