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ERIC Number: ED605423
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2020-May
Pages: 8
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Exploring New Research on Pre-K Outcomes. Policy Brief
Fischer, Adrienne; Keily, Tom; Weyer, Matt
Education Commission of the States
As pre-K programming increasingly garners more political attention and funding in the states, policymakers are seeking the most up-to-date and rigorous research to support decision-making and creation or expansion of these programs. High-quality pre-K has bipartisan support in part because of the vast amount of existing research detailing positive benefits -- notably that it is of great benefit to students from low-income families and those who are dual-language learners. However, some research also demonstrates that positive growth among pre-K students isn't consistently sustained over time. This idea is known as "convergence" or "fadeout," because the short-term gains of pre-K attendees may diminish in early elementary school. The reasons for these mixed findings vary. Some researchers have pointed out that large-scale, public pre-K often varies in quality from program to program, making comparisons difficult. Others have suggested that the convergence effect may be a function of the instruction provided in kindergarten and early elementary grades, which often focuses heavily on improving the skills of struggling students who may lack access to pre-K rather than building on the skills of pre-K attendees. This Policy Brief analyzes 15 research studies on the effectiveness of pre-K outcomes in programs across the country and finds evidence of sustaining effects beyond kindergarten.
Education Commission of the States. ECS Distribution Center, 700 Broadway Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80203-3460. Tel: 303-299-3692; Fax: 303-296-8332; e-mail: ecs@ecs.org; Web site: http://www.ecs.org
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education; High Schools; Secondary Education; Elementary Education; Kindergarten; Primary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Education Commission of the States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A