Low Preschool Teacher Quality in Private Preschools and Areas of Low Socioeconomic Status – When the Equalizing Potential of Preschools is Surpassed by Uneven Levels of Certified Preschool Teachers
(2024) SIMZ51 20241Graduate School
- Abstract
- Given preschools’ important role in shaping children’s learning and development surprisingly little is known about why some Swedish preschools are much more successful in offering high-quality early education than others. Earlier research has shown that socioeconomic gaps in educational achievements can largely be explained by knowledge gaps established during the preschool years. There may be social inequalities in the distribution of quality in preschools that help explain the gaps in achievement in primary school. Focusing on preschools, their neighborhoods, and municipality characteristics, this study draws on data from 8582 preschools in 290 Swedish municipalities. Results from multi-level regression analyses suggested that private... (More)
- Given preschools’ important role in shaping children’s learning and development surprisingly little is known about why some Swedish preschools are much more successful in offering high-quality early education than others. Earlier research has shown that socioeconomic gaps in educational achievements can largely be explained by knowledge gaps established during the preschool years. There may be social inequalities in the distribution of quality in preschools that help explain the gaps in achievement in primary school. Focusing on preschools, their neighborhoods, and municipality characteristics, this study draws on data from 8582 preschools in 290 Swedish municipalities. Results from multi-level regression analyses suggested that private preschools score lower regarding quality indicators than public preschools and that variations in preschool quality reinforce patterns of social inequality rather than acting as equalizers. Preschool quality tends to be lower in neighborhoods with low socioeconomic status thus leading to a double disadvantage for children within those contexts. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- Preschools are important in shaping children’s learning and development. Previous studies have found that educational inequalities are already established at an early age, long before children enter primary school. In Sweden, the preschool quality varies a lot between different preschools and between different municipalities. The quality has been found to differ to the degree it likely affects the children's learning and development. Despite the relevance of achieving equal access to high-quality preschools, there is a lack of systematic nationwide evaluations of preschool quality and its determinants. Because of this, there is no detailed knowledge about preschool quality in Sweden. My study therefore examines and maps out indicators of... (More)
- Preschools are important in shaping children’s learning and development. Previous studies have found that educational inequalities are already established at an early age, long before children enter primary school. In Sweden, the preschool quality varies a lot between different preschools and between different municipalities. The quality has been found to differ to the degree it likely affects the children's learning and development. Despite the relevance of achieving equal access to high-quality preschools, there is a lack of systematic nationwide evaluations of preschool quality and its determinants. Because of this, there is no detailed knowledge about preschool quality in Sweden. My study therefore examines and maps out indicators of preschool quality in a sample of 8582 preschools in 290 Swedish municipalities.
Using multi-level regression analysis, the preschool’s quality indicators are examined in the context of their municipality. The results show that private preschools have a lower teacher quality than public and that neighborhoods with low socioeconomic status have lower teacher quality than other neighborhoods. The results show that quality in preschools is not randomly distributed and that patterns of quality reinforce social inequalities.
By law, children in Sweden have the same right to equal high-quality preschools, this is not realized today. Providing all children with equal high-quality preschool has the potential to long-term positively affect educational performances, lower crime rates, increase employment rates, and increase overall equality in society. My results can be used by policymakers as a basis for further actions to ensure high-quality preschools for all children. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9163693
- author
- Klasson, Tove LU
- supervisor
-
- Jan Mewes LU
- organization
- course
- SIMZ51 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Preschool, Social equity theory, Preschool quality, Equal education, Sweden, Equality, Social Equity
- language
- English
- id
- 9163693
- date added to LUP
- 2024-06-26 12:29:24
- date last changed
- 2024-06-26 12:29:24
@misc{9163693,
abstract = {{Given preschools’ important role in shaping children’s learning and development surprisingly little is known about why some Swedish preschools are much more successful in offering high-quality early education than others. Earlier research has shown that socioeconomic gaps in educational achievements can largely be explained by knowledge gaps established during the preschool years. There may be social inequalities in the distribution of quality in preschools that help explain the gaps in achievement in primary school. Focusing on preschools, their neighborhoods, and municipality characteristics, this study draws on data from 8582 preschools in 290 Swedish municipalities. Results from multi-level regression analyses suggested that private preschools score lower regarding quality indicators than public preschools and that variations in preschool quality reinforce patterns of social inequality rather than acting as equalizers. Preschool quality tends to be lower in neighborhoods with low socioeconomic status thus leading to a double disadvantage for children within those contexts.}},
author = {{Klasson, Tove}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Low Preschool Teacher Quality in Private Preschools and Areas of Low Socioeconomic Status – When the Equalizing Potential of Preschools is Surpassed by Uneven Levels of Certified Preschool Teachers}},
year = {{2024}},
}