Table 4.
Predicted Probabilitiesa of Meeting the PALS-K Literacy Benchmarkb, Stratified by Preterm Birth (n = 153,145)
| Term Birth (Gestational Age ≥37 Weeks) |
Preterm Birth (Gestational Age <37 Weeks) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Predicted Probability, % (95% CI) | Predicted Probability, % (95% CI) | |
| Overall | 91.74 (91.60, 91.89) | 88.92 (88.29, 89.56) |
| By Medicaid Delivery Coverage | ||
| Non-Medicaid | 92.91 (92.71, 93.11) | 91.39 (90.73, 92.62) |
| Medicaid | 89.93 (89.62, 90.23) | 85.46 (84.29, 86.63) |
| By Maternal Education | ||
| 1–3 years HS | 83.19 (82.46, 83.92) | 79.16 (76.85, 81.48) |
| HS grad/equivalent | 89.35 (89.04, 89.66) | 85.54 (84.28, 86.81) |
| 1–3 years college | 93.30 (93.06, 93.55) | 91.07 (90.02, 92.13) |
| 4 years college | 95.49 (95.26, 95.72) | 93.80 (92.88, 94.71) |
| 5+ years college | 95.70 (95.42, 95.97) | 94.69 (93.50, 95.89) |
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; grad, graduate; HS, high school; PALS-K, Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening-Kindergarten.
All predictions generated by ordinary least squares regression models adjusted for maternal age, maternal education, maternal race/ethnicity, maternal marital status, Medicaid delivery coverage, parity, and child’s sex. We included a gestational age-Medicaid delivery coverage interaction to stratify predictions by Medicaid delivery coverage, and we included a gestational age-maternal education interaction to stratify predictions by maternal education. Regressions are clustered at the mother level.
The PALS-K benchmark is a score of 28 points or greater on the test (range: 0–102 points). Failure to meet the benchmark signals that a child may need early literacy intervention.