Curran, F. Chris2018-11-082018-11-082015-03-23Curran, F. C. (2015). Expanding downward: Innovation, diffusion, and state policy adoptions of universal preschool. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 23(36). http://dx.doi.org/10.14507/epaa.v23.1688http://dx.doi.org/10.14507/epaa.v23.1688http://hdl.handle.net/11603/11917Framed within the theoretical framework of policy innovation and diffusion, this study explores both interstate (diffusion) and intrastate predictors of adoption of state universal preschool policies. Event history analysis methodology is applied to a state level dataset drawn from the Census, the NCES Common Core, the Book of the States, and other sources. Significant predictors of policy adoption include greater Democratic control of the state legislature and the prolonged presence of a targeted preschool program. Regional proximity is not found to be a significant predictor of policy adoption. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.26 pagesen-USThis item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author.non-commericial use onlyuniversal preschoolearly childhoodevent history analysispolicy adoptiondiffusionText