Examined are longitudinal impacts of Louisiana's Early Childhod Development Program for children at risk of being unprepared for school. Teachers' assessments of children enrolled in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade during the 1987-88 school year were obtained with the Early Childhood Development Program Follow-up Study Instrument, a…

Summarizes the work of seven National Governors' Association task forces (on teaching, leadership, parent involvement and choice, readiness, technology, school facilities, and college quality) and the "action agenda" proposed. The governors' recent report is unique for its authorship, the tough issues tackled, and its follow-up plan.…

This introductory packet discusses early development and learning, and summarizes the research base for early childhood interventions. The packet also examines implications for school readiness, identifies good practice to promote healthy early development and address barriers, and presents resources and references. The packet's introductory…

This document summarizes the goals for learning to be achieved by English children by the time they enter compulsory education after their fifth birthday. The goals emphasize early literacy, numeracy, and the development of personal and social skills. Presented as six areas of learning, the goals provide a foundation for later achievement in Key…

Along with the rapid expansion over the past decade of Head Start, a program providing comprehensive early childhood development services to low-income children, their families, and their communities, has come the demand for rigorous research to demonstrate program effectiveness. This report describes the proposed design of a national study of the…

These hearings transcripts present testimony on the impact of the Head Start program for preparing disadvantaged children for school, to inform the reauthorization of Head Start. Opening statements by U.S. Representatives Michael Castle (Delaware) and Lynn Wolsey (California) focused on needs for improving Head Start. A written statement by…

Between 1991 and 1993, a statewide study of public preschool practices in North Carolina was conducted to determine the characteristics of pre-kindergarten programs and of the children and families they served; short-term outcomes for children; and kindergarten outcomes for children who attended public preschool compared to those with other…

Because children entering kindergarten come with a variety of preschool and home experiences, and accordingly, with varying levels of school readiness, the Wyoming Early Childhood Readiness Standards have been developed to provide a more consistent definition of school readiness. The goal for the Standards is to provide early childhood educators…

Analyzed Chicago Longitudinal Study data to determine correlates of preschool participation. Found that participation was associated with significantly higher levels of school readiness, achievement, and educational attainment, and with lower rates of child maltreatment, juvenile delinquency, special education placement, and grade retention.…

Examines the impact of children's attendance at preschool on teaching and learning in 77 low-income Hawaiian families' homes. Data from the families (18 participating in a year-long series of interviews) illustrate the development of 2 parental scripts, 1 for skills used in the home, and 1 for preparation for school. (SLD)

Steven Barnett and Clive Belfield examine the effects of preschool education on social mobility in the United States. They note that under current policy three- and four-year-old children from economically and educationally disadvantaged families have higher preschool attendance rates than other children. But current programs fail to enroll even…

Portions of this paper were presented at a research briefing, sponsored by the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means. Results are presented from evaluations of several early intervention programs, all of which provided high quality, center-based early childhood education and…

Reviews research concerning the effects of retention of kindergarten and first grade students and alternatives to such retention. (BB)

Research shows that many primary grade students need extra-year options and benefit from them as they start their schooling. This book provides information about school readiness and transition programs in the United States, documenting the need for and success of such programs as a countermeasure to grade retention, as well as the negative…

This report covers 66 studies, reviews, reports, analyses, and books. Of these 39 are new; 27 have been carried over from previous editions. An ERIC search was conducted to identify relevant studies. Noting that the most accurate predictor of student achievement is the extent to which the family is involved in his or her education, this report…