Effective Learning Experiences in Preschool
Quality in early childhood programs has been a longstanding priority in policy and practice. Identifying the contribution of specific elements of high quality or effective learning experiences (ELE) is critical in scaling effective programs to population levels. This Brief summarizes preschool findings for five ELEs in the Midwest Child-Parent Center (CPC) Expansion Project: (1) full-day preschool, (2) small classes (17 or fewer children), (3) balance of teacher-directed and child-initiated instruction, (4) a high percentage of instructional time in core domains, and (5) an engaging classroom environment.
New Phase of Chicago Longitudinal Study
HCRC researchers are partnering with Northwestern University on a new phase of the seminal Chicago Longitudinal Study (CLS). Since 1985, the CLS has tracked the development of a group of 1,539 individuals who grew up in urban poverty. Intervention group members attended the Child-Parent Centers (CPC) beginning in preschool and continued participation through 2nd or 3rd grade. The new phase of CLS research, which began in spring 2017, further examines the connection between CPC participation, educational attainment, and physical and mental health outcomes at age 37-39.
HCRC Brown Bag Seminars
HCRC Brown Bag Research Seminars are monthly presentations that are open to the public.
October Brown Bag Seminar
October 23, 2018: Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Wilkins Room, 215 Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Kids’ Involvement and Diversity Study (KIDS): Racial Variations in Understandings and Experiences of Organized Youth Activities
Douglas Hartmann, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Minnesota
Teresa T. Swartz, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Minnesota
Out-of-school activities have provided many multi-faceted benefits to children and their development. Children from middle-income families have greater participation in out-of-school enrichment activities than do children from lower-income families.
Join us on Tuesday, October 23, 2018, from noon to 1:00 to hear sociologists Dr. Douglas Hartman and Teresa T. Swartz discuss research done by KIDS throughout the metropolitan area on the relation between social inequality and youth activities.