Quality in early childhood settings has emerged as an important factor in determining whether the potential benefits of educational experiences before kindergarten will be realized. Research demonstrates that in order for such interventions to be beneficial to young children's development, the quality of their educational environments and…

There is a definite need for effective intervention programmes that address the social-emotional, character and healthy development of preschool children. Strong social-emotional skills are necessary for successful transitions to formal schooling and for healthy developmental trajectories. The "Positive Action" ("PA") programme…

Care Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRISs) have advanced and matured, a number of states and localities have undertaken evaluations to validate the systems. Such efforts stem from the desire to ensure that the system is designed and operating in the ways envisioned when the system was established. Given that a central component in a QRIS…

Strong school and family ties have long shown success in influencing positive child development and lasting academic success. While a multitude of programs exist to help facilitate the school-family connection, one program in particular, Families and Schools Together, or FAST, stands out as an effective prevention program that is suitable for a…

This article presents findings from the evaluation of the Caring Equation, a Department of Health and Human Services-funded project established in 2003 in Arlington County, Virginia, public schools. The program is a multifaceted intervention program and is one of about 20 programs currently operating in school districts around the United States.…

Examined the impact of high-quality middle-level teacher preparation programs. Subjects were 2,139 teachers from 5 states. Middle schools with grades six through eight configurations were selected. Results showed that respondents prepared in comprehensive programs, had separate licensure, or who had taken more courses tended to give more favorable…

This report details the development and evaluation of a model program for inservice training of full-time child day care personnel. Based on a survey of licensed day care centers in Virginia, the program involved 100 participants, ranging from day care aides through center directors. The 10-week training element was presented three successive…

Study examined why one school district required some children to take two years to reach first grade. Staff interviews, classroom observations, and demographic analysis indicated extra-yearing was implemented by a small, powerful few. More poor and fall-born children were placed in the program, which did not affect student achievement. (SM)

SPECIAL PROGRAMS IN REMEDIAL READING, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, SUMMER SCHOOL INSTRUCTION, AND SCHOOL-COMMUNITY COORDINATION ARE EVALUATED. ALTHOUGH THE REMEDIAL READING PROGRAM DID NOT ESTABLISH THE SUPERIORITY OF ANY PARTICULAR METHOD OF TEACHING, IT DEMONSTRATED THE VALUE OF HAVING A READING SPECIALIST ON THE SCHOOL STAFF. MOST 4-YEAR-OLD…