Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is a relatively new model of early childhood education, with little evidence on whether and how it affects children's development. This study provides new evidence using data from Michigan, which has the nation's second-largest TK program. Using survey data (N=171) from administrators in 2021-2022, the paper…

High-quality preschool programs are heralded as an effective policy tool to promote the development and life-long wellbeing of children from low-income families. Yet evaluations of recent preschool programs produce puzzling findings, including negative impacts, and divergent, weaker results than were shown in demonstration programs implemented in…

Little is known about how the expansion of state pre-kindergarten (pre-k) programs affects low-income children with disabilities in Head Start. Using almost 30 years of administrative data of all Head Start programs and a differences-in-differences design, this study tests the possibility that, as state pre-k differentially draws relatively more…

Educational robotics is presented as a resource increasingly present in the early childhood education stage, allowing the development of STEM competences in a practical and motivating way. Due to the evolution of its use in the classroom, the aim of this paper was to analyse and evaluate research on robotics applied to early childhood education.…

Instructional coaching is steadily becoming a staple in schools everywhere. In elementary schools, coaches are often organized by content or grade level coaching programs. While research continues to show that instructional coaches positively support teachers, research does not address the structure behind coaching programs. This mixed-methods…

Previous research has highlighted the need to improve teacher education programs with the intent of preparing infant-toddler professionals as working with infants-toddlers and families requires a unique skill set. The following mixed methods research study supported these assertions by examining the early childhood education (ECE) undergraduate…

Although the NASP 2020 Standards emphasize consultation as a core competency, few studies have examined consultation preservice training on consultant outcomes. This article describes the content and implementation of a training program focused on ecological-positive behavior consultation, called "Positive Environment and Behavior for…

This article describes the significance of equipping preservice teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively approach behavioral challenges with early elementary students (i.e., kindergarten to third grade). Early elementary years are crucial for a child's academic and social development, and students who exhibit challenging…

Music education for the preschool age group and piano teaching in this context is generally of great interest and in demand. In Turkey, music teacher candidates take piano lessons during their undergraduate education, two of which are compulsory and six are elective. In this process, however, a course on how to teach the piano is not included in…

This paper analyzes the extent to which sustainability is present in the curricula of the 16 Education Degree programs belonging to the EDINSOST project: 6 Early Childhood Education Degrees, 7 Primary Education Degrees, 2 Pedagogy Degrees and 1 Social Education Degree. The results obtained suggest that sustainability is present in all Degrees, but…

Play is an indispensable component of the human experience, and it is as old as humanity itself. Considering the academic perspective of early childhood education as the first step in education, the understanding of play is imposed as a challenge in the perception and analysis of play in the formal education of future ECEC teachers. In order to…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a structured, playful activity program on the development of social skills in kindergarten children during break time in the schoolyard. Twenty eight boys and thirty two girls aged from 5 to 6 years old consisted the sample of the present study. The participants were randomly divided into two…

Children entering kindergarten vary greatly in their language and literacy skills. Therefore, up-to-date information about evidence-based practices is essential for early childhood educators and policymakers as they support preschool children's language and literacy development. This study used a process modeled after the What Works Clearinghouse…

This Study Snapshot highlights key findings from a study that examines up-to-date information about evidence-based practices that are essential for early childhood educators and policymakers as they support preschool children's language and literacy development. The study used a process modeled after the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) methodology…

The "Effectiveness of Early Literacy Instruction: Summary of 20 Years of Research" study examined information about evidence-based practices that are essential for early childhood educators and policymakers as they support preschool children's language and literacy development. The study used a process modeled after the What Works…