With the academic rigor of kindergarten increasing, it is imperative that children come to kindergarten with a foundation that will allow them to be successful in the kindergarten classroom. This mixed-method research project sought to explore the impact of participation in an early childhood on the academic achievement in the areas of literacy…

The inclusion of prekindergarten programs has increased awareness as to whether or not children are gaining the readiness skills necessary for a successful entry into kindergarten. This study examined the impact of preschool experiences on kindergarteners' reading readiness levels. This study determined whether or not there were differences in…

The purpose of this correlational study, which took place in a Central Florida school district, was to investigate the relationship between the quality of the early childhood education (ECE) programs and students' kindergarten readiness scores. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, which states that a child's environment, culture, and language are…

This study utilizes the Brigance screener historical data to make a prediction of which prior settings students will come to kindergarten not-ready. It also uses prior settings data to look at subcategories of the composite score to inform an intervention plan to combat kindergarten not-ready scores. The research concluded that there is a…

This study examined the relationship between parental involvement in family math night activities and student State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test score using the following constructs: (a) parental involvement at school (b) parental involvement at home (c) parental involvement in math (d) monitoring schoolwork (general involvement…

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to identify and describe what correlations, if any, exist between the composite Phelps Kindergarten Readiness Scale (PKRS) score, the visual-perceptual subtest of the PKRS, and reading achievement by the end of grade one. The quantitative data used in this study were the PKRS scores from 421 students…

Increasing standardized test scores and identifying factors that impact student performance are always on the minds of educators. Educators are continually challenged by experts to consider professional learning communities (PLCs) as a viable pathway to school reform. This treatise will report on the results of a quantitative research study…

The purpose of this comparative study was to examine the connection between the implementation of a quality early childhood program and the kindergarten readiness of prekindergarten students as measured by the Developmental Indicators for Assessment of Learning-DIAL-3. The researcher analyzed historical data obtained from approximately 40 students…

The purpose of this study was to determine if attending a four-year-old preschool program had an impact on the academic achievement of elementary age students. With limited funding and the demands of No Child Left Behind legislation, schools are constantly evaluating the effectiveness and cost of ongoing programming. In addition, educational…

Public school education and reform face a myriad of challenges that are uniquely different from those of years past. Tougher curriculum standards, societal differences, cultural diversity and an overall shift in educational attitudes and practices may limit and change the educational success of many children. The cognitive development of students…

This study investigated the effects of a parent-child home numeracy intervention on the mathematics scores of first grade students attending urban, Catholic schools. The participants included 60 parents (29 Black; 2 Asian; 1 Latino; 26 White; and 2 other) from two urban, Catholic schools. Parents, randomly assigned to the experimental group,…

Scope and Method of Study: This naturalistic inquiry case study explored a selected pre-kindergarten program and the extent of its provision for school readiness through the lens of General Systems Theory. Assessment results from kindergarten students at three separate elementary schools were analyzed, interviews were completed with select early…

The National Reading Panel has highlighted the lack of educational opportunities that underprepared prekindergarten students are likely to experience. Traditionally, girls have outperformed boys in reading achievement. Local school districts are concerned with the increase of prekindergarten students who enter the primary grades deficient in…

This program evaluation focused on one year of Bridges to Tomorrow, a multi-year initiative designed by Metro United Way to better prepare at-risk children for academic success upon entering kindergarten. Bridges to Tomorrow provided three child care centers operating in at-risk neighborhoods with interventions that included a structured…

Many children who have attended Georgia's prekindergarten programs are unprepared to enter kindergarten and learn a standards-based mathematics curriculum. In addition, a majority of prekindergarten programs in Georgia struggle to provide high quality mathematics instructional support for children. One such program is a childcare center located in…