Study confirms benefits of preschool

A signficiant number of children who were at risk for poor acacemic performance showed significant improvement after being enrolled in a high-quality, pre-kindergarten program, according to a three-year study of 10,000 Pennsylvania students. The study focused on children raised in poverty who were enrolled in programs covered by Pre-K Counts, which provides early childhood education through an alliance of school districts, providers and community organizations.

The study results were announced this afternoon. Among its findings: All at-risk children studied in Pre-K Counts programs showed significant gains in development and early learning skills from reading to math to socialization to behavior.

Eighty percent of the children in the study met critical state school success competency standards for transition to kindergarten.

Children in every ethnic group represented in the study made significant gains.

Historically, participating school districts showed an 18 percent special education placement rate for high risk children. The rate for Pre-K Counts children was 2 percent.

The study was conducted by the SPECS Research Team from the University of Pittsburgh's Early Childhood Partnerships Program and managed through the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation. It was one of the largest ever conducted on high-risk preschoolers in the country and was funded through a $1 million Heinz Endowments grant.