Vivian C. Wong|Thomas D. Cook|W. Steven Barnett|Kwanghee Jung
An effectiveness?based evaluation of five state pre?kindergarten programs
Rutgers Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights|Rutgers Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
abstract since 1980 number state prekindergarten prek programs doubled 38 states enrolling one million children 2006 alone study evaluates five state prek programs affected childrens receptive vocabulary math print awareness skills taking advantage states strict enrollment policies determined childs date birth regressiondiscontinuity design used estimate effects michigan new jersey oklahoma south carolina west virginia receptive vocabulary new jersey oklahoma yielded significant standardized impacts though two three coefficients direction indicating positive effects math coefficients positive michigan new jersey yielded reliable results largest impacts print awareness five coefficients positive four reliable michigan new jersey south carolina west virginia five states randomly selected average higher quality program standards nonstudied states precluding formal extrapolation nation large however sample states differed many ways permitting conclusion state prek programs positive effects childrens cognitive skills though magnitude effects varies state outcome 2008 association public policy analysis management