IES Predoctoral Program Seminar: Dr. Jade Jenkins

The University of Pennsylvania Predoctoral Training Program in Interdisciplinary Research Methods for Field-based Research in Education, sponsored by the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), welcomes Dr. Jade Jenkins to our weekly seminar series.

In Search of Dynamic Complementarities between Early and Later Education: Evidence from North Carolina’s Pre-K and K–12 School Funding Reforms

Presented by Dr. Jade Jenkins, associate professor of education, University of California, Irvine

We extend Johnson & Jackson’s (2019) seminal paper on dynamic complementarities between early and later educational opportunities using modern-day programs in North Carolina (NC). We exploit exogenous variation in both the allocations made to counties for state pre-k funding (NC Pre-K) and K–12 funding allocations made to districts resulting from a court-ordered school funding reform known as the Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Fund (DSSF), both during the mid-2000s. We find that DSSF-induced increases in K–12 per-pupil expenditures had null or possibly negative impacts on student’s fifth-grade academic achievement. In turn, we find no evidence of complementarities with NC Pre-K investments.

More information

The IES Predoctoral Program’s weekly seminar series connects program fellows and affiliates to scholars and practitioners who engage in educational research and the development of research methods.

Seminars are likely of interest to doctoral students and faculty. If you are interested in attending virtually, please email Cecilia Dye for Zoom information.

PLEASE NOTE: This seminar has moved and will now take place in Stiteler Room 265.