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IES Grant

Title: Randomized Evaluation of Curiosity Corner With Follow-Up Into SFA and Control Elementary Programs
Center: NCER Year: 2003
Principal Investigator: Chambers, Bette Awardee: Success for All Foundation
Program: Preschool Curriculum Evaluation Research      [Program Details]
Award Period: 4 years Award Amount: $1,481,236
Type: Efficacy and Replication Award Number: R305J030138
Description:

Purpose: In this project, the researchers aimed to determine the efficacy of combining Curiosity Corner, a comprehensive preschool program, and a subsequent comprehensive school reform program called Success for All for students in kindergarten and first grade. Curiosity Corner was a program that provided an integrated curriculum, professional development, and materials for serving at-risk preschool children. Success for All was an extensively evaluated program for older children that used systematic phonics, tutoring, and family support to ensure children's reading success. The researchers were supposed to evaluate whether children in full-day programs serving mostly low-income families benefit from Curiosity Corner in preschool classes, followed by Success for All in kindergarten and first grade.

Structured Abstract

THE FOLLOWING CONTENT DESCRIBES THE PROJECT AT THE TIME OF FUNDING

This research project tests the hypothesis that the impacts of early intervention depend on intervention starting in preschool and continuing into the early primary school years. The researchers will randomly assign half of the schools to Curiosity Corner and half to the current program approach that is already in place. Half of the students in each group will then be randomly assigned to the Success for All program for kindergarten and first grade, and half to schools that are continuing to use the approach they already have in place. The study includes 280 children (4-years old) in 32 classrooms in 20 high poverty schools. Participating children are in a variety of programs, including Head Start, day care, and public pre-K, with some children in half-day programs, and others in full-day programs. The students come from families with various racial and ethnic backgrounds, and at least 65 percent are eligible for free lunch.

Products

ERIC Citations: Find available citations in ERIC for this award here.

Select Publications:

Book chapters

Chambers, B., Cheung, A., and Slavin, R.E. (2006). Effective Preschool Programs for Children at Risk of School Failure: A Best-Evidence Synthesis. In B. Spodek (Ed.), Handbook of Research on the Education of Young Children (pp. 347–360). New York: Erlbaum.

Journal articles

Chambers, B. (2009). Curiosity Corner: Getting all Children Ready for School. Early Childhood Services, 3(3): 227–243.

IES published report (GPO)

Preschool Curriculum Evaluation Research Consortium (2008). Effects of Preschool Curriculum Programs on School Readiness (NCER 2008–2009). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Research. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. (IES GPO Report)


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