PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS

Studies

Strengthening Head Start: What the Evidence Shows
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | June 2003
"When the school readiness of the nation's poor children is assessed, it becomes clear that Head Start is not eliminating the gap in educational skills and knowledge needed for school. Head Start is not fully achieving its stated purpose of "promot[ing] school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of low-income children."

A Head Start for Poor Children?
Heritage Foundation | Krista Kafer | May 2003
"Throughout the past three and a half decades, the federal government has attempted to address the achievement gap through Head Start, Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and other programs. Yet there is no clear evidence that these programs have helped poor children gain any advantage that can be maintained over time."

Early Childhood Intervention Programs: What Do We Know?
Brookings Roundtable on Children | Janet Currie | April 2000
"It is disappointing that numerous studies have not produced more consistent evidence of the long-term effectiveness (or lack of effectiveness) of early intervention. The available evidence sheds less light on the wisdom of establishing a universal public preschool program."

Prekindergarten Benchmarks for Language and Literacy: Progress Made and Challenges to be Met
National Institute for Early Education Research | M.S. Burns, K. Midgette, D. Leong and E. Bodrova
"This paper examines the use of benchmarks for pre-k language and literacy, provides samples of current national and state standards, and offers key points for the development of effective benchmarks."

Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org