Homelessness in Early Childhood and Third-Grade Academic Achievement: Do Executive Function Skills Mediate or Moderate Risk?

Authors

• Rebecca Distefano, Roger Williams University, University of Minnesota Twin CitiesFollow
• Alyssa R. Palmer, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Amanda W. Kalstabakken, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Cynthia K. Hillyer, Minneapolis Public Schools
• Ann S. Masten, University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Early Education and Development

Publication Date

1-1-2026

Abstract

Multiple studies indicate that executive function (EF) skills predict academic achievement among children experiencing homelessness. However, few studies have examined the extent to which EF mediates or moderates links between early homelessness and subsequent math or reading achievement. Leveraging data from direct assessments of EF during pre-kindergarten screening and integrated administrative data from multiple sources, we examined the mediating and moderating effects of EF on the association between early childhood homelessness and third-grade academic achievement. Participants included 496 children (Mage = 54.27; 52% female) who completed three EF tasks in addition to a routine pre-kindergarten screening battery. By combining administrative data on homelessness with screening data, we identified 91 children exposed to early homelessness. Measures of academic achievement were drawn from educational administrative data. Research Findings: As hypothesized, early childhood homelessness predicted lower EF and subsequent third-grade achievement; EF skills partially mediated associations between homelessness and third-grade math and reading performance. Contrary to hypotheses, EF did not show moderating effects on the risk of early homelessness for achievement. Practice or Policy: Findings suggest that later achievement may be related to systemic risks associated with early homelessness that also affect early EF skills that are important for learning.

DOI

10.1080/10409289.2026.2647279

Recommended Citation

Distefano, R., Palmer, A., Kalstabakken, A., Hillyer, C., & Masten, A. (2026). Homelessness in Early Childhood and Third-Grade Academic Achievement: Do Executive Function Skills Mediate or Moderate Risk?. Early Education and Development https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2026.2647279

ISSN

10409289

E-ISSN

15566935