DEPARTMENT: Pre-K 4 SA
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Kathy Bruck, CEO
SUBJECT:
Edvance Federal Grant Proposal
SUMMARY:
Staff briefing and possible Board approval for the potential federal grant proposal submission by Edvance in relation to Pre-K 4 SA with the purpose of determining the effectiveness of Pre-K 4 SA intervention utilizing a control group and augmenting the current study of Pre-K 4 SA [Kathy Bruck, Pre-K 4 SA CEO]
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The current partnership between Pre-K 4 SA and Edvance and NIEER studies and analyzes the development of Pre-K 4 SA students over five years; however, it does not provide for a control group.
The potential grant proposal is for Edvance, in partnership with NIEER, to follow three cohorts of Pre-K 4 SA students with an experimental and control group. The experimental group consists of students that are accepted and attend Pre-K 4 SA, while the control group consists of students that applied but were not accepted into the program.
In the early childhood industry, this method of evaluation is rare and sets the highest standard. Pre-K 4 SA will benefit from the study because any growth of students compared with the control group would unquestionably result from Pre-K 4 SA efforts. The study's results will demonstrate the benefits of Pre-K 4 SA to justify continuation of the program after its initial eight years. The City of San Antonio will become a case study and model for other cities, states, and federal programs. The study would provide one of the few definitive examples of the benefits of prekindergarten.
ISSUE:
The Academic Readiness Committee met on Monday, July 9, 2014 to discuss this item. This will include a staff briefing on the items discussed at said committee meeting for potential approval by the Board.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should Edvance not receive support for moving forward with the grant proposal submission, the study of Pre-K 4 SA would lack a control group, thus prov...
Click here for full text