It provides qualitative information based on a literature review and on interviews with representatives of different authorities and organizations involved in early childhood education. In addition, quantitative data analyses are provided that are based on detailed pupil-level and preschool-level data from the Ministry of Education.
Many socioeconomic indicators as well as school achievement test results indicate considerable gaps between the Jewish majority and the Arab minority in Israel. It is conceivable that the roots of these gaps lie in differential access to and quality of early childhood education in the two sectors. The study therefore highlights Jewish-Arab differences throughout.