ABSTRACT

Research Findings: We examined the association between neighborhood median income, child race/ethnicity, and parental perspectives and practical considerations regarding preschool program location. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of parents in Boston, Massachusetts planning to enroll in preschool (N = 1171). Questions measured parental preferences regarding program location, number of care transitions, safety, and transportation. We used adjusted logistic regression models to calculate the association between these factors and race/ethnicity and zip code median household income. Compared to the second quartile, parents living in zip codes within the two highest quartiles of median neighborhood income were more likely to prefer preschool near home. Parents living in zip codes within the highest quartile were less likely to be willing to use school transportation. Compared to parents identifying their child’s race as white, parents of Asian, Black, and Hispanic children were more likely to prefer preschool near work and parents of Black children were less likely to prefer preschool near home. Practice or Policy: Neighborhood median income had a graded association with preference for preschool near home. Transportation and location preferences varied by neighborhood context and socio-demographic factors. These findings can inform efforts to address disparities in preschool enrollment, preschool program design, and family engagement.

摘要

研究成果：我们研究了邻里收入中位数、儿童种族/族裔、父母的观点和有关学前班地点的实际考虑之间的关联。我们对马萨诸塞州波士顿计划入读学前班的父母进行了横断面调查 (N = 1171)。问题衡量了父母对项目地点、护理转换次数、安全和交通的偏好。我们使用调整后的逻辑回归模型来计算这些因素与种族/民族和邮政编码家庭收入中位数之间的关联。与第二个四分位数相比，居住在社区收入中位数最高四分位数的两个邮政编码范围内的父母更有可能更喜欢家附近的学前班。居住在邮政编码最高四分位数内的父母不太可能愿意使用学校交通工具。与将孩子的种族确定为白人的父母相比，亚裔、黑人和西班牙裔孩子的父母更有可能更喜欢工作附近的学前班，而黑人孩子的父母不太可能更喜欢家附近的学前班。实践或政策：邻里收入中位数与对家附近学前班的偏好存在分级关联。交通和位置偏好因邻里环境和社会人口因素而异。这些发现可以为解决学前教育入学率、学前教育项目设计和家庭参与方面的差异提供信息。