Topic: Academic Performance, Emotional Competency, School Readiness, Social Competency
Target Population: Early Childhood
Sector: School-Based
This program is for children who are in preschool.
The HighScope Perry Preschool Program is a school-based program that is designed to help develop and enhance children's physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being.
Two randomized controlled trials were conducted with the HighScope Perry Preschool Program. A reexamination of the original data revealed that females had higher levels of high school graduation rates, grade point average, grade levels completed, and higher levels of employment during follow-up at age 19 when compared to no treatment females. However, no effects were found for health, crime, and economic outcomes. Male participants decreased overall crime rates and increased overall employment and earnings at age 40 when compared to no treatment control males. However, no effects were found for educational, health, and economic outcomes. An additional analysis of the data failed to reveal significant effects of the program on health outcomes (e.g., arthritis, hospitalizations) 37-years post-intervention. This same study did, however, report an effect of the program on health behaviors (e.g., traffic tickets and eye doctor visits). When compared to a direct instruction curriculum, studies revealed long-term positive effects of this program on self-reported delinquent acts at age 15. However, the comparison between curricula failed to reach significance for measures of IQ, school achievement, and functional competence (e.g., knowledge of consumer economics).
The HighScope Perry Preschool Program believes that children learn best through hands-on experiences and promotes decision-making, cooperation, independence, persistence, creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving. The program focuses on promoting positive teacher-child interactions, creating an active learning environment, developing daily routines, and assessing children's progress. The curriculum includes the following content areas:
Learning in these eight areas is guided by 58 key developmental indicators (KDIs). Each KDI identifies an important learning goal for children. Because the normal pace of children’s development and learning varies widely across these eight categories, the KDIs can help teachers interpret childrens' words and actions along a developmental continuum and allow teachers to hold reasonable expectations for children.
Since the late 1960s, this program has been implemented in 13,000 classrooms across the world and has served over 250,000 children.
This program is implemented by preschool teachers, and training is required. Training options include off-site workshops, virtual courses, online courses, and on-site training. Please visit https://highscope.org/professional-learning-courses/ or use details in the Contact section to learn more.
Considerations for implementing this program include acquiring buy-in from preschool administrators and staff, ensuring that teachers complete training, and setting up the preschool classroom to accommodate for various activities.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing HighScope Perry Preschool Program, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you! Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Children participate in the program for 1 to 3 years while they attend daycare or preschool. Lessons and curriculum are not specifically timed; instead, the program focuses on the overall concept and routine.
The online store has all required and additional materials needed to implement the program. Please visit https://highscope.org/store/ for information and costs.
To move the HighScope Perry Preschool Program to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence at least one evaluation must be conducted that demonstrates sustained, positive outcomes.
The Clearinghouse can help you to develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu
You may also contact HighScope by mail 600 North River St., Ypsilanti, MI 48198, phone 1-800-587-5639, fax 1-734-485-0704, email info@highscope.org or visit https://highscope.org/contact-us/
Heckman, J. J., Moon, S. H., Pinto, R., Savelyev, P. A., & Yavitz, A. (2010). The rate of return to the HighScope Perry Preschool Program. Journal of Public Economics, 94(1), 114-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2009.11.001
Muennig, P., Schweinhart, L., Montie, J., & Neidell, M. (2009). Effects of a prekindergarten educational intervention on adult health: 37-year follow-up results of a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Public Health, 99(8), 1431-1437. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2008.148353
Schweinhart, L. J., & Weikart, D. P. (1997). The High/Scope preschool curriculum comparison study through age 23. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 12(2), 117-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0885-2006(97)90009-0
