The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study to Age 40

Larry Schweinhart, Jeanne Montie, Zongping Xiang, W. Steven Barnett, Clive Belfield, Milagros

Nores

High/Scope Educational Research Foundationwww.highscope.org

Experimental design

123 young African-American children, living in poverty and at risk of school failure.

Randomly assigned to initially similar program and no-program groups.

Experimental design

4 teachers with bachelors’ degrees held a daily class of 20-25 three- and four-year-olds and made weekly home visits.

Children participated in their own education by planning, doing, and reviewing their own activities.

Major findings over time

55%

40%

60%

15%49%

61%

38%

28%

60%

36%

77%

67%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Arrested 5+ times by 40

Earned $20K+ at 40

High school graduate

Basic achievement at 14

Committed to school at 14

Ready for school at 5

No-program group Program group

More high school graduates

9%

55% 40%

23%

5%

68%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

No-program group

Program group

Associate+ degreeGraduated from high schoolHigh school dropout

More employed, higher earnings

Employment

56%

62%

69%

76%

40% 60% 80%

Age 27

Age 40

Program groupNo-program group

Earnings

$10,000

$15,300

$12,000

$20,800

$8,000 $16,000 $24,000

Age 27

Age 40

Program group

No-program group

Fewer arrested for various types of crimes

58%

34%

48%

36%

14%

33%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Property

Drug

Violent

Program group

No-program group

Better health and family relations

55%

71%

43%

30%

43%

48%

17%

57%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Lost week of work for healthproblem

Males: Marijuana

Males: Prescription drugabuse

Males: Raised own child

Program group

No-program group

Different effects on males and females

88%

46%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

High school graduates

Program femalesNo-program females

45%

69%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

5+ arrests by 40

Program malesNo-program males

$64,526 $94,310 $77,163

$1

5,1

66

$2

,76

8$

7,3

03

$1

4,0

78

$0 $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000

Costs

Benefits

Total return = $258,888; $17.07 per dollar invested: $12.90 to the public, $4.17 to participants

Welfare EducationEarnings Taxes paidCriminal justice system Crime victims

Large return on investment (Per participant in 2000 constant dollars discounted 3% annually)

Study applications: Program

Teachers help children participate in their own education by having them plan, do, and review some of their own activities.

Teachers hold daily classes for 3- and 4-year-olds, including those at risk of school failure, with an adult for every 8 children.

Teachers visit with families frequently to discuss their children’s development.

Study applications: Teachers

A teacher with a bachelor’s degree and certification in education in every classroom.

All teachers receive training, supervision, and assessment that support their participatory educational approach.

Participatory Preschool Model

In the High/Scope participatory education model:• The classroom is arranged into activity areas with

materials close at hand.•

• In the daily routine, children plan, do, and review some of their learning activities and also engage in small- and whole-group activities.

• Teachers help children grow by treating them with respect, engaging them in conversation, and supporting their key child development experiences.

High/Scope Preschool Curriculum Study

17%

10%

39%

47%

6%

6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Arrested for felony

Emotionallydisturbed

High/Scope group

Nursery school group

Direct instruction group

Other studies find long-term benefits and return on

investment.• Ramey and Campbell’s North Carolina

Abecedarian project found such effects for high-quality versus typical child care.

• Reynolds’ Chicago Child-Parent Centers study found such effects for a big-city service program.

• Olds’ Elmira, New York, study found such effects for a nurse home visiting program.

Four preschool characteristics predict children’s later ability

around the world.IEA Preprimary Study

• Having free-choice, participatory learning activities

• Having few whole-group activities

• Amount and variety of materials

• Teachers’ schooling