The Effects of Early Education On Children's Competence in Elementary School

Abstract

Programs of early education have focused primarily on low-income populations and on outcomes available from traditional assessments of children's intelligence or achievement. This evaluation used observations of children's behavior in elementary school classrooms several years after the program services had been delivered. Childrenfrom a wide range of family backgrounds were included. The results indicated that program participants benefited particularly in the area of mastery skills or academic learning behaviors. Children with highly educated mothers showed advantages regardless ofprogram service level, but children whose mothers were less highly educated showed advantages only with relatively intensive service level.