Early Ed Roundup: Week of June 9 – June 13

Study Finds Roots of High School Success in Grade 4

Teachers can identify students who are at risk of failure in high school as early as fourth grade, according to a report released Tuesday by the Public Policy Institute of California. The study analyzed the test scores of the Class of 2006 in San Diego and found that grades, test scores and behavior reports in grade 4 were accurate predictors for whether a student would pass the California High School Exit Exam, known as the CAHSEE. The report expressed concerns about the value of 11^th hour interventions for students who fail the exam. Instead, the report’s authors recommended shifting funds to help build a strong educational foundation in the early grades, including universal pre-kindergarten and class-size reduction.

Growth and Variety of Pre-K for Disabled Students

Some parents of Bay-area pre-kindergarteners with disabilities have specialized programs available closer to home now that a new facility has opened in the Menlo Park School District. School districts are required to offer pre-kindergarten for children with disabilities as a part of their right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) under the federal IDEA law–even in states that don’t have state pre-k programs. This year, the federal government is spending $374 million for special education pre-kindergarten programs. Schools find many ways to use the funds. A pre-kindergarten in East Volusia, Florida reports success with a “blended” pre-kindergarten program, where disabled children make progress by learning alongside peers developing at a typical pace.

How Old For Kindergarten?

Children who are older when they enter kindergarten have better achievement in later grades, according to a recent report by the Public Policy Institute of California. California has one of the latest kindergarten cutoff dates in the country; children may start kindergarten if they turn 5 by December 2^nd of that year. The report, which surveyed 14 other studies on the topic, finds that fewer children would be retained or diagnosed with a learning disability if the cutoff date is moved to September. The report echoes a 2004 recommendation by the California Governor’s Committee on Education Excellence, which estimated that 100,000 fewer children would enroll in kindergarten at age 4 as a result of the policy change. The report also noted that one benefit of moving up the cutoff date would be an increased focus on the quality and availability of pre-kindergarten programs.