Early childhood programs are not institutionalized like educational programs for children and youth. Instead, they operate in schools, several types of community agencies, other people's homes, and parents' own homes. Several long-term studies show that high-quality preschool programs can have long-term effects and strong return on investment.…

This report presents results from research into the effects of early childhood programs on their participants, particularly low-income and at-risk children. The studies described offer evidence on the long-term effects of high quality early childhood programs. Such programs can have long-lasting positive effects on children and their families,…

This digest reviews various longitudinal studies that examined the long-term effects of programs that served young children living in poverty and at risk of school failure. Concerning program effects on school performance, all studies that collected data on children's intellectual performance found that their program groups had better intellectual…

The High/Scope Perry Preschool study through age 27 found that high-quality, active learning preschool programs for impoverished African American children cut their crime rate in half, significantly affected their educational performance and level of schooling, increased their earnings and commitment to marriage, and returned $7.16 for every…

This guide presents information elementary school administrators need to develop and maintain good early childhood education programs for 4- and 5-year-olds. It also presents the curriculum principles that are relevant to both early childhood programs and the elementary grades. The guide will help principals and administrators recognize good early…

The first in a series of papers by the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation on policy issues in early childhood care and education, this report describes the status of early childhood care and education in the United States in the 1980s, with emphasis on publicly funded programs. First presented are data from the October 1980 Current…

This paper describes the problem and consequences of preschool poverty and outlines the potential contributions of high quality preschool child development programs towards lessening the magnitude of the problem. Data indicate that among children under 6 years of age one in four is now living in poverty, and in 17 states more than one fourth of…

Many analyses are presented which attempt to examine the teaching of young children by teachers and parents. Teaching is comprehensively defined as behavior which influences someone's learning or development. The analysis of teaching is considered in light of the factor of efficiency of communication. Analyses are arranged on an operationality…

This paper reviews the psychological theories and research which deal with the meaning of words in the course of human psychological development. The three major premises of the review are: (1) that word meaning is conducive to empirical study, (2) that rules can be produced that apply to most word meanings, and (3) that human development has…

This report is primarily an assessment of needs for extra-family child care and early education in Monroe County, Indiana (as of April 1974). First, child care and early education are discussed in their historical contexts from a social-systems point of view. After these general considerations, the scope of the needs of young children in Monroe…

Recent research (including a longitudinal study comparing direct instruction, nursery school, and High/Scope models) has shown that the child-initiated approach outstrips teacher-directed activity in fostering some aspects of social development. Adolescents from the High/Scope and nursery school groups had half as many delinquencies as the direct…

The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study is a study of the effects of a high-quality preschool program for children born in poverty. Following 123 children randomly assigned to program or no-program control groups, the study has had little attrition on a variety of measures from age 3 to age 41. The study has found evidence of preschool program…

Noting that growing evidence indicates that high-quality preschool child development programs contribute to the short and long-term development of children living in poverty, this digest summarizes recently reported experimental and quasi-experimental studies of Head Start and similar programs. Recently reported experimental studies include those…

This paper presents some ideas to preschool educators and policy makers about how to make validated educational models central in standards for preschool education and care programs that are available to all 3- and 4-year-olds. Defining an educational model as a coherent body of program practices, curriculum content, program and child, and teacher…

Noting that growing evidence indicates that high-quality preschool child development programs contribute to the short- and long-term development of children living in poverty, this Digest summarizes recently reported experimental and quasi-experimental studies of Head Start and similar programs. Recently reported experimental studies include those…