Policy Brief/Analysis

Preschool Curriculum Use and Exposure to and Home Language and Culture

National Survey Results

The NASEM report, "A New Vision for High-Quality Preschool Curriculum," highlights the significance of curriculum types and their attention to linguistic and cultural diversity, particularly for dual-language learners. It distinguishes between comprehensive (multi-domain) and domain-specific curricula, concluding that domain-specific curricula are more effective in improving academic outcomes.

Drawing on a national survey of preschool teachers conducted by NIEER in 2010, this brief explores the frequency of different curricula types and their attention to children's diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Given that federal policies and professional organization recommendations on curriculum have not changed significantly since 2010, it is likely that current curriculum adoption remains similar.

The Authors

W. Steven (Steve) Barnett is a Board of Governors Professor and the founder and Senior Co-Director of the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University. Dr. Barnett’s work primarily focuses on public policies regarding early childhood education, child care, and child development.

Kwanghee Jung, an assistant research professor, brings to NIEER expertise in quantitative data analysis and is working on studies that analyze the effect of participation in state-funded preschool on children’s learning and development.

About NIEER

The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at the Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, conducts and disseminates independent research and analysis to inform early childhood education policy.