Preschool in an Era of Diversity Evelyn K. Moore President NBCDI December 15, 2003

Perry Preschool Project/High Scope Ypsilanti, Michigan 123 children at ages 3 and 4 were randomly divided into a group who received a high- quality, active learning preschool program and a group who receive no preschool program.

High/Scope Perry Preschool Study Major Findings at Age 27 Source: High/Scope Educational Research Foundation

High/Scope Perry Preschool Study Public Costs/Benefits/Participant Source: High/Scope Educational Research Foundation

High/Scope Perry Preschool Implications Empower Children--- encouraging them to initiate and carry out their own learning activities and make independent decisions. Empower Parents– bringing them into full partnership with teachers in supporting their children’s development. Empower Teachers– providing them with systematic inservice curriculum training, supportive curriculum supervision, and observational tools to assess children’s development. Source: High/Scope Educational Research Foundation

Math & Reading Scores of First- Time Kindergartners, Fall 1998 Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Early Childhood Longitudnal Study, Kindergarten Class of

Reading Achievement for African American Fourth Graders 735,000 African American 4 th graders. 36% or 264,600 reading at the basic level compared to 71% or 2.4 million white 4 th graders. Source:Nations Report Card. National Center of Educational Statistics, Single Grade of Enrollment and High School Graduation Status for People 3 Years Old and Over, by Age, Sex, Race and Hispanic Origin: October U.S. Census Bureau.

Reading Achievement for African American Fourth Graders 735,000 African American 4 th graders. 64% or 471,000 African American 4 th graders are not reading at a basic level. Source:Nations Report Card. National Center of Educational Statistics, Single Grade of Enrollment and High School Graduation Status for People 3 Years Old and Over, by Age, Sex, Race and Hispanic Origin: October U.S. Census Bureau.

1.Early Literacy Development Love to Read— An early literacy public education engagement campaign designed to help parents and caregivers of young children understand the important role they play in children’s development.

Causes for the Gap A lack of language and a language rich home environment---Russ Whitehurst White children from professional families speak 1,116 different words per hour as compared to 525 words spoken by children from welfare families.—Catherine Snow

Causes for the Gap Climate in the home surrounding oral language development—Dorothy Strickland – The climate in the home must be warm and rewarding. In safe supportive environments of home, “young language users are rewarded for their attempts rather than scolded for their mistakes.”

Causes for the Gap Cultural Connections—Drs. Oscar Barbarin and Wade Boykin – It is essential to understand the culture and context of the children we seek to teach. – The lack of synergy between the learning that takes place at home and the teaching that takes place at school is the predominant factor affecting literacy achievement in young Black children.

2.Parental Involvement We need policies that focus on helping parents understand that their child rearing practices can have a direct result on achievement. Quality parenting education can transform the discouraging picture of Black children falling behind to a picture of success and achievement.

PEP Curriculum Modules Provides the foundation to increase parents’ knowledge of child development while building their self- confidence and empowering them to become their children’s advocates.

PEP Curriculum Modules Gives parents a cultural context that helps them retain and use what they learn most effectively while building self- esteem, motivation, and pride in their heritage.

PEP Curriculum Modules Helps parents develop goal-directed behavior and make concrete plans for education and work so they can gain the stability needed to successfully raise their families.

PEP Curriculum Modules To inform and reinforce in parents a sense of pride in themselves, their community and their history. For more information or to order PEP visit or call www.nbcdi.org

3. Professional Development Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Educational Statistics, Higher Education General Information Survey

Total # of Degrees conferred Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Educational Statistics, Higher Education General Information Survey