Case Studies
Educational First Steps
An analysis of the impact of Educational First Steps on students’ success using measures of academic achievement and school progress in Dallas Independent School District (DISD).
Download the report.
Educational First Steps (EFS) is a nonprofit organization that has been helping preschool age children from low-income families in the Dallas area for nearly two decades by assisting affiliated, community-based child care centers through:
- Professional training
- Enrichment programs
- Targeted financial assistance
- Promotion of parental involvement through literacy activities and parenting classes
In 2008, EFS provided these services to over 60 affiliated early childhood education centers in low-income neighborhoods located in Dallas and several surrounding cities.
Inferential statistical techniques were used to examine the relationship between EFS participation and student success as measured by academic achievement and school progress.
The results indicated that accredited EFS affiliates have a positive effect on student success. Students who attended accredited EFS centers score better than their more advantaged classmates on math and reading assessments in the early grades. The persistence of this effect is significant given that evaluations of early childhood programs do not consistently find effects beyond kindergarten.
Phase 2 data collection to update the analysis is underway and scheduled to be published Fall 2009.
For more information please contact Dr. Richard Scotch, Principal Investigator.
Page last updated on January 6, 2010.
