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Are Preschool Programs Becoming Less Effective? EdWorkingPaper No. 23-885

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Title: Are Preschool Programs Becoming Less Effective? EdWorkingPaper No. 23-885
Language: English
Authors: Anamarie A. Whitaker (ORCID 0000-0002-6865-5850), Margaret Burchinal (ORCID 0000-0002-3606-7843), Jade M. Jenkins (ORCID 0000-0002-2000-3087), Drew H. Bailey, Tyler W. Watts (ORCID 0000-0002-2741-0873), Greg J. Duncan (ORCID 0000-0002-9869-6311), Emma R. Hart (ORCID 0000-0003-3808-0838), Ellen Peisner-Feinberg (ORCID 0000-0001-9716-9977), Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
Source: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. 2024.
Availability: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 40
Publication Date: 2024
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Preschool Education
Descriptors: Preschool Education, Program Effectiveness, Educational Quality, Educational Research, Randomized Controlled Trials, Social Change, Program Content, Educational Practices, Program Administration, At Risk Students
Abstract: High-quality preschool programs are heralded as an effective policy tool to promote the development and life-long wellbeing of children from low-income families. Yet evaluations of recent preschool programs produce puzzling findings, including negative impacts, and divergent, weaker results than were shown in demonstration programs implemented in the 1960s and 70s. We provide potential explanations for why modern evaluations of preschool programs have produced less positive and more mixed results, focusing on changes in counterfactual conditions and preschool instructional practices. We also address popular explanations such as subsequent low-quality schooling experiences that, we argue, do not appear to account for weakening program effectiveness. The field must take seriously the smaller positive, null, and negative impacts from modern programs and strive to understand why effects vary and how to boost program effectiveness through rigorous, longitudinal research.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: ED672217
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anamarie+A%2E+Whitaker%22">Anamarie A. Whitaker</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6865-5850">0000-0002-6865-5850</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Margaret+Burchinal%22">Margaret Burchinal</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3606-7843">0000-0002-3606-7843</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jade+M%2E+Jenkins%22">Jade M. Jenkins</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2000-3087">0000-0002-2000-3087</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Drew+H%2E+Bailey%22">Drew H. Bailey</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tyler+W%2E+Watts%22">Tyler W. Watts</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2741-0873">0000-0002-2741-0873</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Greg+J%2E+Duncan%22">Greg J. Duncan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9869-6311">0000-0002-9869-6311</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Emma+R%2E+Hart%22">Emma R. Hart</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3808-0838">0000-0003-3808-0838</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ellen+Peisner-Feinberg%22">Ellen Peisner-Feinberg</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9716-9977">0000-0001-9716-9977</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Annenberg+Institute+for+School+Reform+at+Brown+University%22">Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University</searchLink>
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  Data: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Quality%22">Educational Quality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Research%22">Educational Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Randomized+Controlled+Trials%22">Randomized Controlled Trials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Change%22">Social Change</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Content%22">Program Content</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Practices%22">Educational Practices</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Administration%22">Program Administration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22At+Risk+Students%22">At Risk Students</searchLink>
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  Data: High-quality preschool programs are heralded as an effective policy tool to promote the development and life-long wellbeing of children from low-income families. Yet evaluations of recent preschool programs produce puzzling findings, including negative impacts, and divergent, weaker results than were shown in demonstration programs implemented in the 1960s and 70s. We provide potential explanations for why modern evaluations of preschool programs have produced less positive and more mixed results, focusing on changes in counterfactual conditions and preschool instructional practices. We also address popular explanations such as subsequent low-quality schooling experiences that, we argue, do not appear to account for weakening program effectiveness. The field must take seriously the smaller positive, null, and negative impacts from modern programs and strive to understand why effects vary and how to boost program effectiveness through rigorous, longitudinal research.
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: ED672217
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 40
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      – SubjectFull: Preschool Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Quality
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Research
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      – SubjectFull: At Risk Students
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