Prekindergarten Education Program: Effects of HISD Prekindergarten on Kindergarten Performance, 2013-2014. Research Educational Program Report

N

23

Preschool Education; Preschool Curriculum; Literacy; Numeracy; Social Development; Emotional Development; Student Needs; Culturally Relevant Education; Program Effectiveness; Academic Achievement; Enrollment Trends; Reading Achievement; Mathematics Achievement; Economically Disadvantaged; Socioeconomic Influences; Early Intervention; English Language Learners; Kindergarten; Special Education

In compliance with the Texas Education Code, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) has provided free prekindergarten classes for eligible Houston area four-year old students since the 1985-1986 academic year. The program curriculum focuses on beginning literacy, numeracy, social emotional development as well as supporting the individual linguistic and cultural needs of the children served. The purpose of this evaluation is to examine the extent that students benefit from attending HISD prekindergarten. To determine the academic benefits of HISD prekindergarten programs, the academic performance of students who attended HISD prekindergarten programs were compared to students who were not enrolled in HISD prekindergarten programs in the previous year. The report addresses the following research questions: (1) The performance of HISD and Non-HISD prekindergarten students on the 2013-2014 kindergarten Stanford 10 and Aprenda 3 reading and mathematics subtests; (2) The effects of HISD prekindergarten programs on students' reading performance by student subgroups; and (3) The effects of HISD prekindergarten programs on students' mathematics performance by student subgroups. This evaluation also examined prekindergarten program enrollment trends and the proportion of kindergarten students enrolled in HISD and Non-HISD prekindergarten programs from 2006-2007 to 2013-2014. Findings from the evaluation suggested that HISD prekindergarten programs had positive effects on Black, Hispanic, economically disadvantaged, special education, limited English proficiency (LEP) and at-risk students' kindergarten Stanford and Aprenda reading and mathematics performance. The findings suggested that HISD prekindergarten program may help to close the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their non-disadvantaged peers.

ERIC

2020

ED603077