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How Northern Ireland Can Get Lasting Returns on Preschool Investment: A Tale of Two Studies. Larry Schweinhart, Ph.D. President, HighScope Educational Research Foundation Northern Ireland Early Years Policy Seminar 15 th November 2012. The HighScope Perry Preschool Study.
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How Northern Ireland Can Get Lasting Returns on Preschool Investment: A Tale of Two Studies Larry Schweinhart, Ph.D. President, HighScope Educational Research Foundation Northern Ireland Early Years Policy Seminar 15th November 2012
The HighScope Perry Preschool Study • 123 children born in poverty in Ypsilanti, Michigan • Randomly assigned to preschool or no preschool • The HighScope Curriculum is highly interactive and focuses on children’s development • Followed from 3 to 40 with little missing data
At least two of three model studies found: • Improved intellectual performance • Improved school achievement in adolescence • Improved high school graduation rate • Fewer special education placements • Fewer grade retentions • Fewer teen pregnancies • Lower arrest rates
The Head Start Impact Study • A nationally representative study of 4,667 newly entering Head Start applicants 3 and 4 years old • Randomly assigned to Head Start or not • Only 80% of the Head Start group attended Head Start while16% of the control group attended Head Start. • Data collection began in 2002.
Impact Study Findings • Head Start has a short-term effect on children’s language and literacy development. • Two years of Head Start has some effect on children’s social emotional development and their parents’ parenting. • Head Start has some health effects. • Head Start is modestly effective; it could and should be highly effective.
Why the difference between model studies and the Impact Study? • To get what we got, do what we did! • Highly effective early childhood programs have special ingredients.
The special ingredients: • Certified or well-supervised teachers who know what they are doing • A child development curriculum of proven effectiveness • Full partnership with parents • Stay on track with feedback from assessment of programs and children
Reaction to the Northern Ireland Baseline Survey • The baseline survey found that two-three year olds attending centers in Northern Ireland were more affluent and had some better skills than other children.