Research Article

Economic Disparities: SPARK Ohio and Narrowing the Kindergarten Readiness Gap

Table 2

Early childhood programs overview.

SPARK Ohio HighScope/Perry Preschool ProjectAbecedarian ProjectChicago Child-Parent CentersParents as TeachersNurse-Family Partnership

Target populationChildren in low-income householdsAfrican American children in low-income households (Southeast Michigan, 1960s)At-risk infants in low-income households (North Carolina, 1970s)At-risk children in low-income neighborhoods (Title I funded areas)At-risk families and children in low-income neighborhoods (specific criteria determined by program affiliates)First-time low-income mothers and their children
Intervention typeHome visitation staff trained in early childhood development; Group meetings; Screenings and referral for developmental or mental health concernsHome visitation and school with certified teaching staffChild care center/preschool and primary school-based instructionChild care center/preschool based instruction and home visitation with trained paraprofessionalHome visitation with trained paraprofessional; Group Meetings, Screening for developmental delays; Resource networkHome visitation with registered nurse
Age at Entry3 or 4 years3 or 4 yearsInfancy3 yearsPrenatalPrenatal (mothers 14-16 weeks gestation)
Supporting agency(ies)Early Childhood Resource Center; Sisters of Charity Foundation, Canton OhioHighScope Educational Research Foundation, Ford Foundation, U.S. Administration of Children, Youth, and FamiliesFrank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDepartment of Early Childhood Education Chicago Public SchoolsMissouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Danforth Foundation, Parents as TeachersNational Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, U.S. Department of Justice
Recruiting method(s)Neighborhood canvassing, community social service referrals, word-of-mouth, school district referralNeighborhood canvassing, low IQ scores requirement (approx. 70-85pts) assessed using the Stanford-Binet Intelligence ScaleSocial service referral, screening performed using High Risk IndexNeighborhood canvassing via school-community representativeCommunity information packets given to new parents, community social service employee and agency referral (e.g., Women, Infant, and Children [WIC] programs)Multi-site prenatal clinic visits (Elmira, New York; Memphis, Tennessee; and Denver, Colorado)
Activity(ies)Prescribed lesson plans, book reading with accompanying task cards to teach parents to teach and become advocates and increase parental engagementNo uniform curriculum; Plan-Do-Review sequenceLearning Games ® encouraging playful exchange between adult and childNo uniform curriculum; emphasizes whole-class, small-group and individualized instruction, field trips, and play; Chicago EARLY instructional guide used as supplementBorn to Learn curriculum to provide: parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting, family well-beingParental interviews
Control GroupNo early intervention administered (peers enrolled in same kindergarten classes as participants)No early intervention administeredNo early intervention administered (utilized other community preschools/child care centers), received free diapers and formulaNo early intervention administered (same-aged peers from similar socio-economic backgrounds enrolled in other school programs in area)No early intervention administered (utilized other community preschools/child care centers)No early intervention administered
Dosages (i.e., intensity)MonthlyDaily (school), weekly (home)Daily (school), bi-weekly (home)Daily (includes 6-week summer program)Monthly (no or minimal needs), bi-weekly (moderate or high needs)Weekly (until 6 weeks old), bi-weekly (until 20 months old), monthly (until 2 years old)