Early Reading First: Preparing Young Children for Kindergarten

Early Reading First, part of the federal "Good Start, Grow Smart" initiative, provided grants that were designed to transform existing early education programs into centers of excellence that provide high-quality, early education to young children, especially those from low-income families. The program aimed to prepare young children to enter kindergarten with the language, cognitive, and early reading skills necessary to prevent reading difficulties and ensure school success.

The evaluation focused on the impacts of the program on reading readiness and other measures of development using a regression discontinuity design to compare outcomes of children attending preschool classes at 28 sites awarded grants in FY 2003 with the outcomes of children attending preschool classes at 37 comparison sites that applied for but did not receive a grant in FY 2003. Data were collected through interviews with parents and direct assessments of children in fall 2004 and spring 2005. In addition, the study team conducted interviews with preschool directors and teachers, along with classroom observations. The report to Congress notes that the program had positive, statistically significant impacts on several classroom and teacher outcomes and on children's print and letter knowledge.

This study was funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Mathematica was a subcontractor to Decision Information Resources, Inc.

"National Evaluation of Early Reading First: Final Report to Congress," May 2007. (Executive Summary)

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