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Do Standard Measures of Preschool Quality Used in Statewide Policy Predict School Readiness?

Author

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  • Terri J. Sabol

    (Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University)

  • Robert C. Pianta

    (Curry School of Education, University of Virginia)

Abstract

In the majority of states using Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) to improve children's school readiness, the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale-Revised (ECERS-R) is a core assessment of preschool program quality and is central to QRIS metrics and incentive structures. The present study utilizes nationally representative data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort to examine relations between the ECERS-R and children's academic, language, and socioemotional functioning at age five years. After using a rich set of controls, we found little evidence that the ECERS-R related to children's development. Further, higher levels of quality failed to improve growth in academic, language, or socioemotional skills and behaviors for children with more exposure to sociodemographic risk. Implications of these findings are discussed with regard to recent policy initiatives and strengthening the measurement of quality in early childhood education settings. © 2014 Association for Education Finance and Policy

Suggested Citation

  • Terri J. Sabol & Robert C. Pianta, 2014. "Do Standard Measures of Preschool Quality Used in Statewide Policy Predict School Readiness?," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 9(2), pages 116-164, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:edfpol:v:9:y:2014:i:2:p:116-164
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kathryn Tout & Rebecca Starr & Margaret Soli & Shannon Moodie & Gretchen Kirby & Kimberly Boller, "undated". "Compendium of Quality Rating Systems and Evaluations," Mathematica Policy Research Reports e3e1472c256f4bd49f20ac5b3, Mathematica Policy Research.
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    4. Thomas D. Cook & William R. Shadish & Vivian C. Wong, 2008. "Three conditions under which experiments and observational studies produce comparable causal estimates: New findings from within-study comparisons," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(4), pages 724-750.
    5. repec:mpr:mprres:6618 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Markowitz, Anna J. & Bassok, Daphna & Player, Daniel, 2020. "Simplifying quality rating systems in early childhood education," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    2. Ashley Brunsek & Michal Perlman & Olesya Falenchuk & Evelyn McMullen & Brooke Fletcher & Prakesh S Shah, 2017. "The relationship between the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale and its revised form and child outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(6), pages 1-29, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Quality Rating and Improvement Systems; QRIS; Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale-Revised; ECERS-R; child development; school readiness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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