Taking issue with the preceding article by Caruso and Detterman, the author contends that research can be one of many respected voices in the political process. According to him, recent research on the effects of early education has played a crucial role in policy decisions about Project Head Start. (Author/WD)

Maintains that new practices such as performance-based assessment that are consistent with the early childhood profession's process goals need to be developed and that testing of young children that is not developmentally appropriate constitutes misassessment. Promotes observational assessment that uses anecdotal notes and that complements…

State and federal policymakers should consider research findings that demonstrate how quality early childhood programs prevent later academic failure among children from low-income families. Recommends ways funding and programs should be implemented. References included. (CJH)

Responds to commentaries by Bereiter and Gersten concerning findings of the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation's 15-year Preschool Curriculum Comparison Study. Addresses issues of design of study, experimenter bias, sample size, self-report validity, interpretation of findings, and related topics. (NH)

This is the second of two papers on the policy issues of early childhood development programs that were prepared especially for state, local, and federal government officials throughout the country. The first paper presented the problem of early childhood poverty and its consequences, and described how high quality early childhood development…

Presents evidence that high-quality early childhood programs can partially offset negative effects of childhood poverty and produce modest but definite benefits in children's education and early adult socioeconomic experience. Contrasts different types of early childhood programs and favors those focusing on child-initiated learning. (RH)