1-050 - As the Twig is Bent...Sustained Effects of Contemporary Public PreK Programs

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Thirty-five years ago the Cornell Consortium for Longitudinal Studies (1983) issued a landmark report documenting the lasting effects of a variety of high-quality preschool programs on life course outcomes through early adulthood. Along with changing demographic trends, such findings led to dramatic increases in enrollment in early education in the following decades. Since 80% of young children currently participate in some type of center-based education, including state prekindergarten, do these routine and usually publicly-funded programs yield sustained effects? The wide variability in quality and absence of key elements of effectiveness in most programs indicate that relatively few programs would produce lasting gains. This variability may explain mixed effects reported in recent years.

This symposium reports findings from three current and routinely implemented public PreK programs sponsored by states and school districts: Child-Parent Centers in Illinois and Minnesota districts, Tulsa’s Universal PreK program, and Michigan’s Great State Readiness Program. They have not only implemented key principles of effectiveness but have conducted longitudinal studies through at least middle childhood. Although the programs differ in geographic context, program elements, and population characteristics, they have assessed key school performance outcomes. They each show evidence of sustained effects.

Each project addresses three questions: (a) What are the program elements and implementation context? (b) What is the research design and key findings on impact?, and (c) How can the findings be used to improve quality in the field at large? The Discussant will expand upon these questions and address lessons for improving effectiveness in contemporary programs.

Sub Unit

• Social Policy

Chair

• Arthur J Reynolds, University of Minnesota

Discussant

• Barbara Bowman, Erikson Institute

Individual Presentations

• Sustained Effects of the Child-Parent Centers in Chicago and the Midwest Expansion - Presenting Author: Arthur J Reynolds, University of Minnesota; Non-Presenting Author: Brandt A Richardson, University of Minnesota; Non-Presenting Author: Suh-Ruu Ou, University of Minnesota; Non-Presenting Author: Sangyoo Lee, University of Minnesota

• The Effects of Tulsa's Universal PreK Program on Middle School Outcomes - Presenting Author: William Gormley, Georgetown University; Non-Presenting Author: Sara Anderson, West Virginia University

• Long-Term Effects of Michigan’s State-Funded Preschool Program - Presenting Author: Tomoko Wakabayashi, Oakland University; Non-Presenting Author: Lawrence J Schweinhart, HighScope Educational Resaerch Foundation; Non-Presenting Author: Zongping Xiang, Independent Consultant