ERIC Number: ED566664
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Sep-29
Pages: 51
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
A Randomized Control Trial of a Statewide Voluntary Prekindergarten Program on Children's Skills and Behaviors through Third Grade. Research Report
Lipsey, Mark W.; Farran, Dale C.; Hofer, Kerry G.
Peabody Research Institute
In 2009, Vanderbilt University's Peabody Research Institute, in coordination with the Tennessee Department of Education's Division of Curriculum and Instruction, initiated a rigorous, independent evaluation of the state's Voluntary Prekindergarten program (TN- VPK). TN-VPK is a full-day prekindergarten program for four-year-old children expected to enter kindergarten the following school year. The program in each participating school district must meet standards set by the State Board of Education that require each classroom to have a teacher with a license in early childhood development and education, an adult-student ratio of no less than 1:10, a maximum class size of 20, and an approved age-appropriate curriculum. TN-VPK is an optional program focused on the neediest children in the state. It uses a tiered admission process, with children from low-income families who apply to the program admitted first. Any remaining seats in a given location are then allocated to otherwise at-risk children, including those with disabilities and limited English proficiency. The current report presents findings from this evaluation summarizing the longitudinal effects of TN-VPK on pre-kindergarten through third grade achievement and behavioral outcomes for an Intensive Substudy Sample of 1076 children, of which 773 were randomly assigned to attend TN-VPK classrooms and 303 were not admitted. Both groups have been followed since the beginning of the pre-k year.
Descriptors: Preschool Education, Outcomes of Education, Randomized Controlled Trials, State Programs, Program Evaluation, Longitudinal Studies, Academic Achievement, Child Behavior, Achievement Tests, Rating Scales, Program Effectiveness, Primary Education, Elementary School Teachers, School Readiness, Attendance, Student Characteristics, Sustainability, Elementary School Students, Regression (Statistics)
Peabody Research Institute. 230 Appleton Place, PMB 0181, Nashville, TN 37203. Tel: 615-322-8540; Fax: 615-322-0293; Web site: http://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/research/pri
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Preschool Education; Early Childhood Education; Primary Education; Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: Vanderbilt University, Peabody Research Institute (PRI)
Identifiers - Location: Tennessee
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Woodcock Johnson Tests of Achievement
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305E090009
What Works Clearinghouse Reviewed: Meets Evidence Standards with Reservations
WWC Study Page: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/study/81036