Educare Post-Secondary Education Project

Closing the achievement gap by supporting the education of low-income parents

A mother's education level is one of the most significant determinants of a child's success in school. To better understand what prevents many low-income parents from achieving their full academic potential, the Ounce of Prevention Fund studied supports and barriers to post-secondary education among young, low-income parents in Chicago, Denver, and Miami.

The Ounce partnered with researchers at Columbia University and Northwestern University on this project. Researchers found that while all the mothers in the study recognized that a college education is essential for success, they varied in their readiness and ability to pursue a higher education.

Researchers concluded that high-quality early childhood centers, like Educare schools, could be a promising platform for promoting parents’ continuing education. To finish the project, the Ounce is partnering with Educare leaders in Chicago, Denver, and Miami to assist each program in exploring how the study’s findings can inform ongoing efforts to support parents’ education goals.

This project was generously supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.



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