Predicting Preschool Enrollment Among Hispanic WIC Participants in Los Angeles County

The purpose of this study was to use structural equation modeling (SEM) to identify predictors of preschool enrollment among 3- and 4-year-olds in families of Hispanic WIC participants in Los Angeles County (N=1349). Potential predictors included maternal education, maternal employment, home literacy environment, child's age, and barriers to childcare. Results indicated that barriers to childcare and child's age were positively related to preschool enrollment, whereas factors such as maternal education and home literacy environment did not significantly predict preschool enrollment. Based on these results, we suggest that efforts to educate families about the importance of preschool be combined with making preschool more financially and physically accessible to low-income families.