The Effects of Full Day Versus Half Day Kindergarten.ppt

The Effects of Full Day Versus Half Day Kindergarten Jonathan A. Plucker Director Overview CEEP National Context IAPSS Study Public Opinion Poll IAPSS Study Follow-up Future Activities CEEP Center for Evaluation andEducation Policy (CEEP) Resulted from the merger of the: Indiana Education Policy Center (IEPC) Indiana Center for Evaluation (ICE) Mission is to provide nonpartisan research support to Indiana policymakers as they craft education policy National FDK Context National Context State kindergarten policies vary widely. In 2003-2004, 40 states required public districts to offer kindergarten. Of which 10 required districts to offer full day programs. Only WV and LA mandate FDK attendance. National Enrollment (ECLS, 2002) Ranges from 83% in southern states to 23% in western states. Rural and urban students more likely to attend FDK than suburban students. African American (79%), white (49%), Hispanic (46%), Asian (40%) poverty (62%) vs. non-poverty (51%). Of schools studied in ECLS, 70% private schools vs. 54% public schools. Indiana FDK Enrollment 12% in 1999 Estimates vary for more recent years, but current rate is probably 15-25%. Elimination of FDK in Evansville may not be factored into those estimates. IAPSS Study Released January 9, 2004 Prepared with Jessica Eaton, Kelly Rapp, Woong Lim, Jeff Nowak, John Hansen, and Amy Bartleson Need for the Research Contracted by Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents to conduct study. Legislators questioned lack of Indiana data during previous FDK debates What are the effects of FDK through the early elementary years? Provide information in forms useful to policymakers Interesting Complications Early childhood research is tricky. Methodologies vary widely. Study designs range from anecdotal to quasi-experiments to meta-analysis Getting data from schools is difficult Many don’t know what they have Methodology Section I: Review of National Studies Review of published studies Section II: Indiana Stu