Image via Denver Preschool Program
When we talk about the importance of investing in early education, one common question we hear is this: do the benefits really continue into 3rd grade, 8th grade and beyond?
We’ve mentioned the success in Maryland before (learn more about that here). And now, there’s a new state boasting improved long-term academic outcomes as a result of investing in early education. The Denver Preschool Program (DPP) recently revealed the findings from their first long-term study.
The results?
Third-graders who participated in DPP four years earlier performed better in reading, despite having a demographic profile that puts DPP at a slightly greater risk of academic failure than their non-DPP counterparts:.
- 64% of DPP children posted advanced or proficient reading scores on the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program, compared to 58% of non-DPP students.
For the past four years, at the conclusion of each school year, DPP student assessments consistently showed that a majority of DPP children were entering kindergarten ready–both academically and social emotionally. These latest outcomes strengthen the case that investing in early education continues to support improved academic outcomes down the road.
The study also revealed that while low-income children still lagged behind their more advantaged peers, DPP students who qualified for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch, outperformed their non-DPP counterparts by 9.3%
Click here to read the full report.
Another study to add to the mounting evidence of the value of investing in early education!
Want to learn more about the benefits of investing in early education? Click here.