The Effects of Prekindergarten Programs on Later Academic and Social Achievement

Abstract

This study investigated how prekindergarten affects students' language arts and social achievement. It targeted one first grade classroom as a case study in an urban elementary school in Western New York. In this classroom, the researcher collected writing samples, observed social skills, and collected Reading Excellence Act Scores. The scores of students that attended prekindergarten were compared to those students that attended preschool and Head Start. Also, kindergarten and first grade teachers were surveyed to determine the teachers' perceptions of prekindergarten. An informal interview was done with the current prekindergarten teacher in the urban elementary school as well. Overall, the prekindergarten students in the one first grade classroom in the urban elementary school were more advanced in their language art and social skills compared to their preschool and Head Start peers.