Quality in Early Years: Key Features of Quality Practice: The Research Perspective Larry Schweinhart, President, HighScope 3,4,5 Children Thrive Conference youngballymun Dublin, November 11, 2010

Effects from Three Studies Up to $16 returned per dollar invested Childhood intellectual performance Teen school achievement Fewer teen births Placements in regular classes High school graduation Adult earnings Fewer crimes

HighScope Perry Preschool Study Large Return on Investment (Per participant in 2008 constant dollars discounted 3% annually)

But Other Studies Find Only Modest Effects. Most recent studies of preschool programs find only modest short-term effects on childrens literacy and social skills. Poor candidates for long-term effects and return on investment.

Implication To get what we got, Do what we did!

Four Ingredients of Highly Effective Preschool Programs 1.Enough qualified teachers 2.Validated, interactive child development curriculum 3.Spend a lot of time with parents 4.Continuously assess program quality and child development

1. Enough Qualified Teachers. Qualified = Teaching certificate and bachelors degree. Curriculum-based supervision and systematic inservice training. Two qualified adults for four-year-olds per class, fewer younger children.

Teachers need to know what they are doing. Teachers in the highly effective programs had bachelors degrees and certification in early childhood education. On average, such teachers will do a better job, but not all of them will.

Few children per teacher The Perry program had a teacher for every 5 to 6 three- and four-year-olds. It is essential to have even fewer infants and toddlers per teacher.

2. Validated, Interactive Child Development Curriculum Learn: Requires interactive training, study, and practice Validated: Evidence of effectiveness with children to be served Interactive: Children and teachers design learning activities Child Development: All aspects of development

Validated Curriculum Evidence of contribution to childrens development. Best evidence comes from Solid scientific designs. Solid measurement of program implementation. Solid measurement of childrens development.

Interactive Curriculum Teachers and students design learning activities. Teachers and students have balanced conversations. Students plan, do and review their learning activities. Teachers give students opportunities for active learning.

Child Development Curriculum Such a curriculum encompasses General knowledge and cognition Physical well-being and motor development Social and emotional development Approaches to learning Language development

HighScope Qualifies Solid evidence of effectiveness. Interactive teacher-student relationships. Encompasses all aspects of childrens development.

3. Teachers Spend a Lot of Time With Parents. Meet with parents and children regularly Focus on childrens development Include center and home caregivers.

Meet with parents and children regularly. Purpose is for parents and teachers to become partners in supporting the childs development. Visit individual parent and child every couple weeks. While their home is preferable, the classroom is another option.

Educate parents about their childrens development. Parents help the teacher better understand the child and their childrearing. Focusing on their child is the most effective way to teach parents how to support learning experiences at home.

Include childrens other center and home caregivers. Part-day teachers should reach out to childrens other caregivers as well as their parents. These other caregivers are also partners in supporting the childs development. Meeting with them has the same purpose as meeting with parents.

4. Continuously Assess Program Quality and Child Development. Assess implementation of an effective program model. Assess childrens developing school readiness. Attune teaching to assessment.

Assess implementation of an effective program model. Early childhood education is held accountable for teaching practices as well as child outcomes. Effective teaching practices comprise a program model with evidence of its effectiveness. Program quality is assessed by observation and interview or self-report.

Assess Childrens Development of School Readiness. Encompasses General knowledge and cognition Physical well-being and motor development Social and emotional development Approaches to learning Language development

School Readiness: Mediator to Long-Term Effects Validity of a school readiness measure: Sensitivity to preschool effects. Ability to predict later effects. High/Scope Perry study mediators are intellectual performance and commitment to schooling. Useful benchmark of the success of todays preschool programs.

Attune teaching to assessment. The program director leads the teachers. Focusing on program quality and contribution to childrens development.