Universal Preschool The Promise and the Peril

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Universal PreschoolThe Promise and the Peril

• The 16th Annual Early Childhood Iowa Congress
• Des Moines, Iowa
• February 10, 2009
• Walter S. Gilliam, PhD
• The Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and
  Social Policy
• Child Study Center
• Yale University School of Medicine

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How We Knew It CAN Work

• Abecedarian Project (Ramey Campbell, 1991)
• Increase reading and math
• Decreased grade retention
• Earlier longer is better
• Harlem Project (Deutsch, 1985)
• 200 more likely to be employed
• 33 more likely to have HS/GED
• 30 more likely to have post-HS Ed

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How We Knew It CAN Work

• Perry Preschool Project (Schweinhart et al.,
  1993)
• 59 greater earnings
• 31 more likely to have HS/GED
• 56 less likely to need Special Ed
• 26 less likely Social Services/Welfare
• 80 less likely to be arrested
• 72 less likely to be arrested on drugs
• 7.14 return on the 1 (1992 dollar rate)

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State PreK Impacts

• Strongest
• Language/literacy in K and 1st
• Grade retention (44 less by 5th)
• Achievement Tests
• Weakest
• Special Ed
• Parent Involvement

Gilliam, W. S., Zigler, E. F. (2001). A
critical meta-analysis of all impact evaluations
of state-funded preschool from 1977 to 1998
Implications for policy, service delivery and
program evaluation. Early Childhood Research
Quarterly, 15, 441-473.
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More Evidence of Effectiveness

• Tulsa Study (Gormley Phillips)
• Improvements in language math
• NIEER 5-state Study (GA, MI, NJ, SC, WV)
• Improvements in language math
• UNC 11-State Study
• Relationship between quality outcomes

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State-Funded PreK What?

• State administered funded
• Serves children 3-4
• Classroom-based
• Goal School Readiness
• 40 states
• 982,000 children
• 55,000 classrooms

Gilliam, W. S., Zigler, E. F. (2001). A
critical meta-analysis of all impact evaluations
of state-funded preschool from 1977 to 1998
Implications for policy, service delivery and
program evaluation. Early Childhood Research
Quarterly, 15, 441-473.
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State-Funded PreK State-Funded Head Start
Ripple, C. H., Gilliam, W. S., Chanana, N.,
Zigler, E. (1999). Will 50 cooks spoil the broth?
The debate over entrusting Head Start to the
states. American Psychologist, 54, 327-343.
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State PreK Head Start Enrollment
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State PreK Head Start Spending(in Millions)
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National Prekindergarten Study

• Sample
• All 52 state preK systems (40 states)
• Simple random selection
• N 40,211 ? n 4,815
• 3,898 respondents (81.0 response 73-100)
• CATI Survey Format
• Respondent Lead Teacher
• 45-55 Minutes
• 10 Letter of Appreciation

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Where is PreK?
29
13
58
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PreK and Head Start Overlap
48
19
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• Quality
• Huge Variations

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Teacher Education
23 CDA 57 Teaching Cert.
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Teacher Mean Years College
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Teacher with BA
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Teacher Ed Mandates

• State mandates range from nothing (8) to BATC
  (16)
• Nationally, 7.1 below required degree
• Highest below mandate
• AR (BA) 31 NJ-Abbott (BA) 24
• AK (CDA) 20 WA (AA) 17 VT (BA) 17

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Teacher Credentials Vary by State
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Assistant Teachers

• Nationally,
• 59 HS/GED 17 CDA 24 AA
• Of 4 states that require a CDA
• TN 69 below
• WA 61 below
• AL 44 below
• AR 42 below

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Class Size
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Class Size gt 20
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Class Size

• Mandates Vary Considerably
• 15 in Colorado 28 in Ohio
• 11 states have no mandate
• 12-16 exceed state mandate
• (26-31 exceed 20 students)
• Highest exceeding mandate
• Colorado 48 (max15)
• Kentucky 37 (max20)
• Iowa 34 (max16)

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ChildTeacher Ratio
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ChildTeacher gt 101
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Child-Teacher Ratios

• Mandates Vary Considerably
• 7.5 in NJ-Abbott LA to 20 in Florida
• 7 states have no mandate
• 13-21 exceed mandate
• (16-19 exceed 101)
• Highest exceeding mandate
• Louisiana 86 (max 7.51)
• Massachusetts 34 (max 81)
• California ½-Day 34 (max 81)
• NJ-Abbott exceeded in none!

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Comprehensive Services

• Health Screenings Immunizations
• Developmental/Mental Health Screening
• Family Resource Services
• Home Visits Meals

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Health Screenings Immunizations
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Developmental Screenings
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Family Resource Services
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Home Visits Meals
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Program Length of Day
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Access Barriers

• Inability to Pay Fees 11 of Classes
• Florida 60
• Missouri 50
• Hawaii 47
• Massachusetts 46
• Transportation 22 of Classes
• New Mexico (SFHS) 57
• Maine (SFHS) 44
• Ohio (SFHS) 44

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State PreK Expulsion Rates
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High Child-Teacher Ratio Predicts Expulsion
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Qualitys Effects on Teachers
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Teacher Job Stress Predicts Expulsion
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Group Size Teacher Stress Predict Expulsion (MA)
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(No Transcript)
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Group Size Predicts Depression Stress
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ChildTeacher Ratio Predicts Depression
Stress
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Number of Other Adults in Room Predicts
Depression Stress
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Debates Directions

• Universal vs. Targeted
• Economic vs. Developmental Political
• Must Focus on Access Quality
• Who Provides?
• Need Support Systems to Promote Quality
• Viewing ECE as an Economic Engine
• Children, Primary Workforce, Secondary Workforce

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• Walter S. Gilliam, PhD
• Director,
• The Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and
  Social Policy
• Child Study Center
• Yale University School of Medicine
• 230 South Frontage Road
• PO Box 207900
• New Haven, CT 06520-7900
• Phone [phone]
• Email walter.gilliam_at_yale.edu
• ziglercenter.yale.edu