Source: Science Daily
A new study published in the journal Child Development found that children who are enrolled in Head Start and miss more than 10 percent of the school year experience fewer academic gains than children who attend regularly.
Researchers at the University of Virginia and Ohio State University found that missing class a lot during early education impacts the quality of education a child receives and the results might be reflected in the child’s future academic performance.
The study examined data from Family and Child Experiences Survey of 2009 Cohort, which analyzed nearly 3,000 3 to 4-year-olds in Head Start programs across the country.
There isn’t much data on attendance for young children in preschool because attending preschool is not mandatory in the U.S.
Ultimately the study found that children who were absent more often in Head Start programs were performing more poorly on language and literacy skills.
Learn more about the study here.
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