2019 Psychology alumna Kaitlyn Mumma is making an impact in the field of early childhood education with research that began as her master’s thesis at George Mason University.
Mumma’s research examines whether attending pre-kindergarten can have lasting academic benefits for children. Her work, conducted in collaboration with researchers from George Mason University and Florida International University, draws on long-term data from children in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The study found that students who attended public school pre-K performed better academically in later years, including stronger reading and math outcomes in third grade.
What started as Mumma’s 2019 master’s thesis has now grown into research receiving widespread media attention. Her findings have been featured in Education Week, the Miami Herald, EdSource, and Florida International University’s FIU News, bringing the research to audiences well beyond academia.
Mumma’s original thesis, The Influence of School Quality on Fifth and Eighth Grade Outcomes of Public-school Pre-k and Center-based Preschool Programs, is also listed among the graduate research of George Mason Psychology Professor Adam Winsler.
Mumma’s journey from graduate student researcher to published scholar and national media contributor is a wonderful example of the lasting impact of research conducted at George Mason, and of the ways our Psychology alumni continue to make meaningful contributions to the field.
Read more about the research:
- Education Week: Does Pre-K Give Kids a Lasting Edge? Here’s What the Latest Study Says
- FIU News: New 20-year study proves pre-K impacts a child’s academic future
- EdSource: Kids who went to preschool do better in 3rd-grade reading and math, study finds
- Miami Herald: Public pre-K gives Miami-Dade students an edge that lasts, FIU study finds