CECR Publications

This first brief looks at who enrolls in publicly funded early childhood programs through the centralized application (NCAP, formerly OneApp). The brief also examines which groups were more likely to participate in Main Round (when families are most likely to get matched to their most preferred option) and examines the implications for the coordinated enrollment system.

The second brief in the series “How New Orleans Families Navigate Early Childhood and Kindergarten School Choice” looks at what parents of young children look for in early childhood programs and elementary schools. Program quality is paramount for parents, but they define quality differently based on whether they’re seeking an early learning program or kindergarten. Location, school culture and other considerations also factor into parents’ decision-making.

This third brief in a seven-part series summarizes responses from 100 parents who applied for or enrolled in a public school or early childhood education (ECE) program in 2020, about whether they can access their preferred programs and schools. The brief explores parents’ perceptions of whether they can access high-quality programs, barriers to access and parents’ concerns about equity. It also looks at the role of geography in parents’ choices and finds that geographic constraints often limited their accessible set of program options.

The fourth brief in the series “How New Orleans Families Navigate Early Childhood and Kindergarten School Choice” summarizes responses from 100 parents who applied for or enrolled in a public school or early childhood education (ECE) program in New Orleans in 2020, about the ways in which they gathered information both about programs and the application process. Choosing the right program for a child can be a daunting experience for parents. This brief explores where parents looked for informational support, and how they ultimately experienced the process of choosing and applying for schools.

The fifth brief in the series “How New Orleans Families Navigate Early Childhood and Kindergarten School Choice” looks at how parents approached the common application process for early childhood and kindergarten programs in New Orleans. The substantial amount of information to sort through leaves some parents feeling as though they don’t have enough information about the programs available to them. This brief examines what that means for the way parents approach the application, and how comfortable they feel with their final set of program choices.