The effect of early childhood developmental program attendance on future school enrollment in rural North India

This paper examines the effect of prior participation in early childhood developmental programs, considered endogenous, upon 7–18 years olds’ school enrollment in rural North India. Analyses by age group of data from the World Bank's 1997–98 Survey of Living Conditions in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar reveal that 7–10 year olds, 11–14 year olds, and even 15–18 year olds are more likely to be enrolled in school as a result of having attended an early childhood developmental program when they were 0–6 years old. It is also found that this favorable effect is particularly pronounced among children from households below the poverty line.

► Pre-school programs raise children's school enrollment in rural North India. ► This benefit is especially pronounced in children from households below the poverty line. ► Educational policy in less developed countries should concern itself with early childhood care and education.