Assessment / Intervention Program

Summary of PRE-POST Findings from the Yr1 (2002-2003) Assessment

Miami-Dade School Readiness Coalition& Florida International University

Charles Bleiker,Ph.D.Florida International University

Adam Winsler, Ph.D.George Mason University

September 11, 2003

Overview - Partners

Miami-Dade School Readiness Coalition Florida International University (FIU)

– George Mason University (GMU)

Miami-Dade Child Development Services Family Central, Inc. Miami-Dade County Public Schools Early Care and Education Providers

Overview – Child Assessments

Learning Accomplishment Profile–Diagnostic (LAP-D)– Fine Motor - Cognitive– Language - Gross Motor (Caregiver)

Devereaux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) (Parent and Teacher Report)

– Initiative - Self-Control– Attachment - Behavioral Concerns

PRE (Sept-Oct) n = 3,208 4-yr-olds POST (April-June) n = 2,549 4-yr-olds

Children demonstrated considerable improvement from the beginning (PRE) to the end of the school year (POST) in their physical/motor, cognitive, and language abilities (LAPD)

51%

36% 33%

72%

42% 42%

25%

81%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Pre Post

Fine Motor

Cognitive

Language

Gross Motor

Teachers reported noticeable improvements from PRE to POST in children’s initiative (independence and motivation to learn)

62%

65%

55%57%

67%

52%54%54%

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

Pre Post

Initiative

Self-Control

Attachment

BehavioralConcerns

Parents also reported noticeable improvements from PRE to POST in children’s initiative as well as slight PRE to POST gains in children’s self control and behavior.

55%

61%

71%

50%

65%

39%38%

68%

25%

35%

45%

55%

65%

75%

Pre Post

Initiative

Self-Control

Attachment

BehavioralConcerns

Neighborhoods / Regions

1. Hialeah, Medley, Hialeah Gardens

2. North Dade, Opa Locka, West View, North Miami Beach, Aventura

3. West Little River, Brownsville, Little Haiti, Allapattah, Wynwood

4. Miami Beach

5. Miami, Coconut Grove

6. South Miami, Tamiami, West Chester, Kendall Lakes

7. Cutler Ridge, Richmond Heights, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Kendall

8. Homestead, Florida City, Goulds

Average Change in Percentile Points From PRE to POST, by Domain and by Neighborhood/Region

11%

7%

9%

11%

1%

6%

13%

10%

14%

-3%

10%

13%14%

2%2%

0%

7%

2%2%2%

5%

0%

6%5%

-5%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Social/Emotional Cognitive/Language Motor/Physical

-Teachers rate children’s protective factors (initiative, attachment, and self-control) higher than do parents. - Parents report considerably more child behavioral concerns than teachers (at PRE and POST).

54%

68%

62% 64%

38%

54%55%

69%

25%

35%

45%

55%

65%

75%

Teacher Parent

Initiative

Self-Control

Attachment

BehavioralConcerns

Summary - Gender / Ethnicity / Language Differences

Overall, ethnic/race differences in child outcomes were very small or non-existent and small differences that were observed on the LAPD at PRE practically disappeared by POST.

There were essentially no differences in children’s scores depending on whether they were assessed in Spanish or English.

Girls are consistently seen by parents and teachers as demonstrating better behavior and socio-emotional skills than boys. Slight gender differences favoring girls on the LAPD at PRE basically disappear by the end of the year.

Summary and Recommendations

Considerable progress has been seen in the first year of the AIP. Subsidized early education programs in Miami-Dade appear to be effective in promoting positive developmental outcomes in children.

Early, first year interventions (training, planning, assessments) implemented by the central agencies this year appear to be working.

Room for improvement, however, still exists, as Miami-Dade children lag behind national standards in multiple domains.

Language/literacy development continues to be the area of most concern for this community.

Large-scale, tailored interventions beginning this year (e,g, SPARK, Project UPGRADE) are likely to yield even stronger gains.