Ep. 79 Reconsidering Prekindergarten

In recent years, states across the country have significantly expanded access to prekindergarten and there have been proposals at the federal level to fund prekindergarten across the country. Prekindergarten does offer short term benefits, but the effects seem to fade by about the third grade.

Recently, researchers paired student data from Tennessee’s statewide prekindergarten experiment with records of teacher observation scores from the state’s new formal evaluation program. Their idea was a simple one: would a student’s access to high-quality early grade teachers help the prekindergarten effects last longer?

Guest: Walker Swain, University of Georgia / Guest Host: Anna Gassman-Pines, Duke Center for Child & Family Policy

• Find out more about the prekindergarten research
• Read the transcript
• Find out more about Walker Swain’s research into recognition vs. money as a student motivator
• Music: “Open Flames” by Blue Dot Sessions/Creative Commons