Bogyung Kim

Draft and abstract available upon request due to data usage agreement.

Draft and abstract available upon request due to data usage agreement.

This study examines the effect of state-mandated full-day kindergarten (FDK) expansion on child maltreatment using National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect child file, State Inpatient Databases hospital discharge data, and National Vital Statistics System mortality records. Leveraging the staggered rollout of FDK adoption across states with difference-in-differences methods, we find that FDK lead to an increase of 3.5 physical abuse reports per 1,000 children, approximately 36% relative to the baseline mean. The absence of an effect on the share of substantiated physical abuse and fatalities suggests that FDK primarily improves the detection of maltreatment rather than increasing its underlying incidence. Supporting this interpretation, educator-filed physical abuse reports rise by approximately 30%, reflecting enhanced detection capacity among teachers and school staff, and potentially replacing reports from other professions. Furthermore, the observed increases in reports from parents and neighbors suggest that FDK may foster stronger community awareness and social support networks. Overall, this research provides new evidence on the broader benefits of early childhood education, particularly its role in strengthening child safety environments.

Draft and abstract available upon request

This study examines the impacts of non-structural student mobility on academic outcomes in Georgia public schools. Using longitudinal administrative data covering three 9th-grade cohorts from kindergarten through high school, we analyze midyear and nonstructural summer school moves, distinguishing by timing, type, and student socioeconomic background.