Does Attendance in Early Education Predict Attendance in Elementary School? An Analysis of DCPS’s Early Education Program

Enrollment in early childhood education programs can be an important stepping stone to higher educational achievement. The Early Childhood Education Division in the DC Public Schools (DCPS) has identified school attendance patterns and absenteeism as areas in need of improvement for meeting school-readiness goals. This report examines the extent to which attendance patterns in DCPS’s Title I school–based Head Start programs predict attendance in kindergarten through second grade. Overall, attendance improves overtime but not for all children. In particular, poor attendance in prekindergarten is a risk factor for attendance problems in elementary school which may ultimately affect achievement.