Austria’s preschool system may worsen inequality for struggling children
Preschool attendance in Austria varies sharply between regions, with assignment rates ranging from just 1% to 26% in the 2022/23 school year. The system, designed to support children struggling with school readiness, has instead been linked to weaker long-term academic outcomes for those who attend.
Under Austrian law, children deemed unlikely to cope with first-grade demands must attend preschool. Yet data from 2022/23 shows stark regional differences: Vienna recorded the highest attendance at 26%, while Burgenland had the lowest at 1%. Children from migrant backgrounds or families with low formal education are more frequently assigned to these programmes.
The findings highlight a troubling trend: a programme meant to help vulnerable children may instead reinforce educational inequality. With attendance rates differing so widely across states, policymakers now face questions about how to ensure fairer outcomes. The data also suggests a need to re-examine how preschool assignments impact long-term student success.
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