Evaluating Early Childhood Personal-Social Development: A Bioecological Analysis of Proposition 10 Funding Impact

• In Event: Early Learning and Development: Tools, Contexts, and Outcomes

Abstract

This study evaluates the impact of California’s Proposition 10 funding on personal-social development among children aged 0–5 in Kern County that covers an area as large as New Jersey. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological framework, the analysis draws on Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 Personal-Social (ASQ-3-PS) data from 1,189 children enrolled in 21 community-based programs. The study assessed overall program effectiveness, age-specific variations, and gender differences. Results revealed highly significant improvements in personal-social development (t(1188) = 53.17, p < .0001, d = 3.09), small but significant age-group differences (F(1,1186) = 5.71, p = .02, d = 0.14), and substantial gender effects (F(1,1186) = 34.80, p < .0001, d = 2.02). These findings offer strong evidence for the effectiveness of outcome-based accountability models in promoting early childhood social-emotional development across diverse contexts.

Author

• Jianjun Wang, California State University - Bakersfield