Measuring ECD Outcomes
High/Scope Perry Preschool Study
The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study is a scientific experiment iden-
tifying the short- and long-term effects of a high-quality preschool ed-
ucation program for young children living in poverty (Schweinhart
and others 2005). In 1962–67, David Weikart and colleagues operated
the High/Scope Perry Preschool program for young children in the
Ypsilanti, Michigan, school district (Weikart and others 1970). The aim
was to help the children avoid school failure and related problems.
Study Design
For the evaluation study, the researchers:
- Identified 123 African American children ages 3–4 years who
were living in poverty and were at high risk of school failure - Assigned the children randomly to two groups: 58 children to a
high-quality preschool “program group” and 65 children to a
“no-program group” - Collected data on both groups—annually from age 3 through
age 11 and at ages 14, 15, 19, 27, and 40 - Compared the outcomes for children who did and did not par-
ticipate in the ECD program.
The researchers defined “children living in poverty” as those whose
parents had little schooling (9th grade, on average) and low occupa-
tional status (i.e., unemployed or in unskilled jobs) and who lived in
high-density households (i.e., 1.4 persons per room). The program
group consisted of several classes of 20–25 children who met daily
with certified teachers. The children participated in their own educa-
tion by planning, doing, and reviewing their activities. The teachers
also made weekly home visits.
Evaluation Results
Figure 1 presents the evaluation results over time and chronologically
for the program group and no-program group. All comparisons are
88 Lawrence J. Schweinhart