Investigating how children's body responses affect their readiness for school.

Early Education, School Readiness, and Early School Success Among Children In Poverty: Exploring the Role of Parasympathetic Function in the Preschool Classroom

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · NIH-10801074

This study is looking at how kids' feelings and social skills affect their readiness for school, especially for those from low-income families, and it hopes to help improve learning for these children by understanding their experiences in the classroom.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL (nih funded)
Locations1 site (CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-10801074 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research explores the relationship between children's physiological responses and their readiness for school, particularly focusing on low-income children. It aims to understand how factors like emotional and social skills, alongside traditional cognitive assessments, influence academic success in early education settings. By enrolling a diverse group of 270 children from around 30 classrooms, the study will gather data on how classroom environments impact children's functioning and readiness. The goal is to fill gaps in current knowledge and improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged children.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years from low-income families who are preparing to enter kindergarten.

Not a fit: Children from higher-income families or those who are not entering kindergarten may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved educational strategies that enhance school readiness and academic success for low-income children.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that understanding the interplay between physiological functioning and educational outcomes can lead to significant improvements in early childhood education.

Where this research is happening

CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.