The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study to Age 40

1. The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study to Age 40 Larry Schweinhart High/Scope Educational Research Foundation www.highscope.org

2. Experimental design • 123 young African-American children, living in poverty and at risk of school failure. • Randomly assigned to initially similar program and no-program groups. • 4 teachers with bachelors’ degrees held a daily class of 20-25 three- and four-year-olds and made weekly home visits. • Children participated in their own education by planning, doing, and reviewing their own activities.

3. Major findings over time

4. More high school graduates

5. More employed, higher earnings

6. Fewer arrested for various types of crimes

7. Better health and family relations

8. Different effects on males and females

9. Large return on investment (Per participant in 2000 constant dollars discounted 3% annually)

10. Study applications: Program • Teachers help children participate in their own education by having them plan, do, and review their own activities. • Teachers hold daily classes for 3- and 4-year-olds, including those at risk of school failure, with an adult for every 8 children. • Teachers visit with families frequently to discuss their children’s development.

11. Study applications: Teachers • A teacher with a bachelor’s degree and certification in education in every classroom. • All teachers receive training, supervision, and assessment that support their participatory educational approach.

12. Participatory preschool education prevents crime. In the High/Scope participatory education model: • The classroom is arranged into activity areas. • In the daily routine, children plan, do, and review their learning activities and engage in small- and whole-group activities. • Teachers help children grow by treating them with respect, engaging them in conversation, and supporting their key child development experiences.

13. Advantages ofparticipatory educationHigh/Scope Preschool Curriculum Study

14. Participatory education helps teachers and children develop.Training for Quality Study • Certified High/Scope trainers have trained over 16,000 early childhood teaching teams, including one-third of Head Start. • Classrooms with High/Scope-trained teachers have better learning environments, daily routines, adult-child-interaction, and overall implementation. • Children in these classrooms have better initiative, social relations, creative representation, music and movement skills, and overall development.

15. Other studies find long-term return on investment. • North Carolina Abecedarian high-quality child care study conducted by Craig Ramey and Frances Campbell • Chicago Child-Parent Centers study Conducted by Arthur Reynolds • Elmira, New York, nurse home visiting program study conducted by David Olds

16. High/Scope’s new emphasis on children’s literacy skills • TheGrowing Readers Early Literacy Curriculum is a set of detailed plans for small-group activities. • The Early Literacy Skills Assessment, for any curriculum, is based on interactive reading of a storybook. -- Some components of Growing Readers and ELSA are available in Spanish. --

17. Growing literacy and social skillsHead Start FACES Study • Also, children in High/Scope Head Start classes improve become more cooperative and less hyperactive than children in other Head Start classes.

18. Four preschool characteristics predict children’s later ability around the world.IEA Preprimary Study • Having free-choice, participatory learning activities. • Having few whole-group activities. • Amount and variety of materials. • Teachers’ schooling.