Policy Reports

Getting the Facts Right on Pre-K and the President's Pre-K Proposal

February 2013
by W. Steven Barnett

This policy report clears up some common misconceptions about preschool's effectiveness and benefits, particularly in regards to the Obama administration's recent fact sheet on investing in early education.

Topics: 
Economics and Finance
Outcomes
State Pre-K Evaluations
Universal and Targeted

Early Education Enrollment and Expenditure Patterns 1995-2005

December 2010

These papers report on enrollments and expenditures for ECCE across the decade from 1995 to 2005 using three harmonized National Household Education Surveys. They explore the metrics of enrollment patterns by age of child, mother’s employment, marital status, expenditure patterns and prices paid per hour of services.

Topics: 
Access
Economics and Finance
State Programs

Early Learning Scale: Technical Report

September 2010

This technical report from NIEER researchers on the Early Learning Scale offers information on the use and reliability of the instrument and on the validity of the data.

Topics: 
Assessment
Teachers

New Jersey Preschool Expansion Assessment Research Study (PEARS)

December 2009

The capacity and quality of non-Abbott child care centers, Head Start programs, and school district preschool programs across New Jersey are assessed in this study by NIEER.

Topics: 
Assessment
Governance and Accountability
State Programs
State Pre-K Evaluations

The APPLES Blossom: Abbott Preschool Program Longitudinal Effects Study (APPLES), Preliminary Results through 2nd Grade

July 2009

An ongoing study of New Jersey’s pre-K program finds that attending the program reduces grade retention and improves language, literacy and math skills.

Topics: 
Outcomes
State Pre-K Evaluations
State Programs

Preschool Education and Its Lasting Effects: Research and Policy Implications

September 2008

Amid debate over the benefit of preschool programs, this new brief examines what researchers currently know about the potential of those programs to bring about positive change.

Topics: 
Outcomes
Quality and Curriculum

The Abbott Preschool Program Longitudinal Effects Study (APPLES)

June 2007

This report presents the results of a longitudinal study of New Jersey's public preschool program, which found that children attending the program improve in language, literacy and math skills through the end of their kindergarten year.

Topics: 
Outcomes
State Programs
State Pre-K Evaluations

Building Early Childhood Facilities: What States Can Do to Create Supply and Promote Quality

April 2007

This report explores common facility issues and outlines strategies for policymakers to address early care and education facility needs.

Topics: 
Access
Economics and Finance
State Programs

A Review of the Reason Foundation's Report on Preschool and Kindergarten

October 2006

An analysis by NIEER of the Reason Foundation's report Assessing proposals for preschool and kindergarten: Essential information for parents, taxpayers and policymaker.

Topics: 
Outcomes
Universal and Targeted

Policy Report - Early Childhood Development and Social Mobility

October 2006

This policy report examines the effects of preschool education on social mobility in the United States.

Topics: 
Outcomes
Quality and Curriculum

Policy Report - Prepared for Kindergarten: What Does "Readiness" Mean?

March 2005

This policy report examines key issues for public policy related to school readiness, the relationship between school readiness and other factors in young children’s lives, and challenges in readying children for kindergarten.

Topics: 
Assessment
Outcomes
Quality and Curriculum

Policy Report - Making the Most of Kindergarten

March 2005

This policy report examines academic and social outcomes of half-day versus full-day kindergarten and trends in provision of full-day programs. Recommendations include balancing anticipated gains from expanding kindergarten schedules against cost considerations and developing classroom and teacher support strategies when moving to full-day.

Topics: 
Governance and Accountability
Outcomes
State Programs
Teachers

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