To help educators obtain more specific comparative data on preschool programs, this paper develops some common constructs for the objective assessment of any program. The constructs proposed are: (1) density, the total amount of sensory stimulation encountered within a given time span; (2) variety, the extent to which the program provides…

The methods and findings of studies of the effects and value of preschool education and compensatory education programs, such as Head Start, are reviewed. After introductory comments on ideological controversies and on terminology, section 1 focuses on evaluative studies of the immediate and long-term effects of preschool education and early…

Selected long-range effects of a preschool program were studied. Students who participated in an Education Consolidation and Improvement Act Chapter 1 preschool program in 1973-74 (n=28) were compared with an equal number not in the preschool program, and both groups were followed for the 13 years through grade 12. The preschool group achieved at…

This discussion examines the relative effectiveness of preschool intervention programs for improving reading skills and provides a review of some of the research concerning such interventions. Four types of preschools are defined: traditional (eclectic in approach), cognitive (stressing the development of learning abilities), informational…

Five groups of children were tested, and their test performances were compared. Experimental group one (X-1) consisted of 105 children who had attended a yearlong Preschool Readiness Center program. Experimental group two (X-2) consisted of 93 children who had attended a summer Head Start program. Control groups one and two (C-1 and C-2) consisted…