Access to Early Care and Education in Rural Communities: Implications for Children’s School Readiness

This study links county-level early care and education (ECE) program, economic, demographic data to child-level from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort of 2010–2011 examine geographic variation in ECE program participation provision. We find that public programs, particularly Head Start, occupy a larger role nonmetropolitan communities than metropolitan areas. By contrast, children rural counties are less likely attend private center-based ECE, nonprofit childcare expenditures areas lag. also rural-metropolitan differences school readiness diminish when characteristics controlled. Results suggest context state-level policy features shape children’s experiences, investments key narrowing disparities attendance outcomes.