Children of less-educated parents gain a third of their math gap from early childcare

A new study found that sending children to childcare at age one or two significantly boosts their math scores in high school. This effect is strongest for children whose mothers did not finish high school, closing a third of their math achievement gap.

Governments have long debated how to close achievement gaps for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. This paper shows that early childcare, starting at age one or two, is a powerful tool for improving math skills for children of less-educated parents and immigrants. It provides concrete numbers that could guide funding for specific age groups and demographics.