Acknowledgments
This report is the culmination of several years of design, data collection, and analysis. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of a significant number of individuals in its preparation and production.
We benefited from the advice of a Technical Work Group. Members have included: Marilyn Box, (formerly) Mesa Public Schools Even Start; Gene Brody, University of Georgia; Thomas Cook, Northwestern University; Lilli Copp, (formerly) Florida State Department of Education; David Francis, University of Houston; Larry Hedges, Northwestern University; Sue Henry (formerly) New York State Department of Education; Chris Lonigan, Florida State University; Robin Morris, Georgia State University; Lynne Vernon- Feagans, University of North Carolina; Barbara Wasik, Johns Hopkins University; Lin Wrinkle, Taylor, Texas Even Start.
Numerous individuals at Westat and Abt Associates contributed in a multitude of ways to the successful conduct of this study. From Westat, design and analysis advice was provided by Alexander Ratnofsky and Camilla Heid. Recruitment was successfully led by Carin Celebuski. Data collection was capably managed by Juanita Lucas-McLean. Field managers over the rounds of data collection included Laura Collins, Katia Cruz, Julie Daft, Sabrina Daly, Karen Gray-Adams, Luis Romero, Sylvia Segovia, and Dawn Thomas-Banks. Participation data were collected and edited by Cathy Lease. The many data systems were designed and implemented under the direction of Patricia Nicchitta, with the assistance of Kanaka Durga and Ying Long. Analysis and statistical support was provided by Jiaquan Fan, Philip Fletcher, and Frank Jenkins. Expert editorial and production assistance was provided by Evarilla Cover and Saunders Freeland. From Abt Associates, Carolyn Layzer helped conceive and develop the OMLIT observation system and also helped train and manage its administration in the field. Anne Robertson played a similar role for the PECAP observation system. Cristofer Price provided analysis and technical support. Programming and database management for the classroom observation data were led by Nancy McGarry and Amanda Parsad.
We were also assisted in this undertaking by a number of individuals from two other organizations, XTRIA and the CDM Group. Both organizations provided several staff who capably assisted in the recruitment of Even Start projects and in the training of data collection staff.
Patricia McKee of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and her staff served as important liaisons with the Even Start State coordinators. The Even Start State coordinators provided support throughout recruitment and data collection. Most importantly, this study would not have been possible without the 3-year commitment of the Even Start projects that agreed to participate in the CLIO study. Their willingness to participate for 3 years is truly appreciated by all of us connected to this study.