Project Activities
Research question
- Is the combination of research-based, literacy-focused preschool and parenting curricula more effective than existing Even Start services?
- Do research-based parenting curricula that focus on child literacy add value to the CLIO preschool curricula?
Structured Abstract
Design
Two curriculum developers were competitively chosen to participate in CLIO, and each was responsible for implementing two versions of their intervention: a research-based, literacy-focused preschool curriculum and an intervention that combined their preschool curriculum with a research-based parenting curriculum focused on child literacy. 120 Even Start projects were randomly assigned to receive one of the four CLIO curricula or to participate in a control group that continued to provide their pre-CLIO instructional services.
The CLIO study collected a year of baseline data on each participating project prior to implementation of the interventions and then measured impacts over two implementation years. CLIO assessed children's early literacy skills and parents' literacy and parenting behavior, as well as observed instruction in the preschool and parenting education classrooms.
Key findings
- Although there were positive impacts on instructional supports for literacy, child social competence, and parenting skills, the CLIO curricula did not have statistically significant impacts on the child language development and literacy outcomes.
- The CLIO parenting curricula did not significantly add value to the CLIO preschool curricula with respect to child outcomes.
People and institutions involved
IES program contact(s)
Products and publications
A report, titled A Study of Classroom Literacy Interventions and Outcomes in Even Start, was released in September 2008.
A restricted-use file containing de-identified data is available for the purposes of replicating study findings and secondary analysis.
Questions about this project?
To answer additional questions about this project or provide feedback, please contact the program officer.
