Can Early Childhood Education Cultivate More Engaged Citizens in Midlife? Findings From Urban Youth of Color

Early childhood education (ECE) is linked to improved school achievement and certain adult outcomes; however, its connection with civic engagement has not been thoroughly examined. In the present study, we investigated the relation between the Child-Parent Center (CPC) program, an ECE program, and civic engagement in midlife. The sample was drawn from the Chicago Longitudinal Study (CLS, N = 1,098, 93.6% black; 54.5% women), a cohort of urban youth of color. Regression analyses revealed that CPC preschool is significantly associated with higher civic participation, electoral activities, and the Civic Engagement Index (CEI). Participants who attended both CPC preschool and school-age programs (PK-3) reported significantly higher electoral activities and a higher CEI. Males benefited more from PK-3 participation in civic participation. Educational attainment and juvenile arrest mediated the significant associations between CPC participation and civic engagement. Findings suggest that early childhood education programs may promote civic engagement in midlife among urban youth of color in high-poverty neighborhoods.