Assessing the benefits of education in early childhood: Evidence from a Pre-K lottery in Georgia

Using enrollment lotteries for over-subscribed school-based sites in Georgia's universal pre-K program, we analyze the impact of participation on elementary school outcomes. We find that lottery-winning school-based Georgia Pre-K enrollees enter kindergarten more prepared in both math and reading than non-winning peers. Gains fade by the end of kindergarten, and some negative achievement effects emerge by grade 4. Free-and-reduced-price meal (FRPM) students benefit more compared to non-FRPM students in later grades, suggesting greater benefits from attendance for disadvantaged students. Although we found no effects on discipline, school-based pre-K enrollees had one fewer absence each grade after kindergarten.