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HighScope Perry Preschool approach

Health Factors: Education
Decision Makers: Businesses & Employers, Schools
Evidence Rating: Some Evidence
Population Reach: 1-9% of WI's population
Impact on Disparities: Likely to decrease disparities

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Description

The HighScope Perry preschool curriculum aims to enhance children's cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical development (SAMHSA-NREPP). This approach encourages children to plan their own activities, carry them out, and reflect on them. Adults arrange the classroom to foster learning in various areas and coach children as the children plan activities, solve problems, and think through their ideas. The original HighScope Perry program, conducted from 1962 to 1967 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, also included weekly home visits to help children's mothers support the Perry educational process in their homes (PPN).

Expected Beneficial Outcomes

Improved educational outcomes
Reduced special education usage
Reduced teen pregnancy
Increased earnings
Increased employment
Increased high school graduation
Decreased crime

Evidence of Effectiveness

There is some evidence that HighScope Perry (HSP) preschool increases participating children's later educational attainment and earnings while reducing arrests (PPN). Replication on a larger scale in multiple cities is needed to confirm effects.

Research following one group of HSP preschool students through age 40 indicates that participants have greater academic success and need less special education than non-participants (PPN, SAMHSA-NREPP). Girls, in particular, are much more likely to graduate high school (PPN), and are less likely to give birth before age 19 than non-participating peers (Blueprints). HSP students also appear to be employed more often, earn more, and more frequently have health insurance in their adult years than non-participating peers (PPN, FYI).

HSP boys are arrested less often as teenagers and adults, and get in fewer gang fights than non-participating peers (PPN). The open-ended HSP approach may promote more social development than regimented, didactic instruction (SAMHSA-NREPP). HSP students may also commit fewer crimes compared to high-risk students in preschools less focused on social development (Schwienhart 1986).

As originally implemented in the 1960s in Ypsilanti, HSP cost $12,400 per student per year in 2012 dollars (SPTW). A cost-benefit analysis indicates an average societal benefit of $6.60 for every dollar invested in HSP preschool (Heckman 2010a).

Implementation Examples

United States

The HighScope approach is used Head Start programs, as well as various public pre-kindergarten programs, and private preschools across the United States (HighScope).

Implementation Resources

HighScope - HighScope. Inspiring educators to inspire children. Accessed on June 20, 2012
Webpage: http://www.highscope.org/

Citations - Description

PPN - Promising Practices Network (PPN). On children, families and communities. Accessed on May 7, 2012
Webpage: http://www.promisingpractices.org/programs_evidence.asp
SAMHSA-NREPP - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP). Accessed on June 20, 2012
Webpage: http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/ViewAll.aspx

Citations - Evidence

Blueprints - Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV). Blueprints for violence prevention model programs. Accessed on June 20, 2012
Webpage: http://www.colorado.edu/cspv/blueprints/modelprograms.html
FYI - Find Youth Info (FYI). Program directory of evidence-based, federally-funded youth programs. Accessed on May 1, 2012
Webpage: http://www.findyouthinfo.gov/programsearch.aspx
Heckman 2010a* - Heckman JJ, Moon SH, Pinto R, Savelyev PA, Yavitz A. The rate of return to the HighScope Perry preschool program. Journal of Public Economics. 2010;94(1-2):114-28. Accessed on April 30, 2012
Webpage: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047272709001418
PPN - Promising Practices Network (PPN). On children, families and communities. Accessed on May 7, 2012
Webpage: http://www.promisingpractices.org/programs_evidence.asp
SAMHSA-NREPP - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP). Accessed on June 20, 2012
Webpage: http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/ViewAll.aspx
Schwienhart 1986* - Schweinhart LL, Weikart DP, Larner MB. Consequences of three preschool curriculum models through age 15. Early Childhood Research Quarterly. 1986;1(1):15-45. Accessed on June 23, 2012
Webpage: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0885200686900050
SPTW - Social Programs That Work (SPTW). Full list of interventions.

Accessed on June 18, 2012
Webpage: http://evidencebasedprograms.org/wordpress/?page_id=1080

Citations - Implementation Examples

HighScope - HighScope. Inspiring educators to inspire children. Accessed on June 20, 2012
Webpage: http://www.highscope.org/

* Journal subscription may be required for access.

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Evidence Rating

Level of effectiveness based on a scan of academic literature and key recommendations of leading organizations.

  • Scientifically Supported Numerous studies or systematic review(s) with positive results
  • Some Evidence Research suggests positive impacts; further study may be warranted
  • Expert Opinion Recommended by credible groups*; research evidence limited
  • Insufficient Evidence Evidence limited or unavailable; further study warranted
  • Mixed Evidence Evidence mixed; further study warranted
  • Evidence of Ineffectiveness Research consistently shows program is detrimental or has no effect

Although many policies and programs are recommended by credible groups, we apply the rating ‘expert opinion’ only when policies are recommended but limited scientific evidence of effectiveness is available.

* The American Heritage Dictionary defines credible as 'capable of being believed; plausible.' and 'worthy of confidence; reliable.' To be considered an 'expert recommendation,' policies and programs must be recommended by one or more organizations that are recognized for their impartial expertise in the area of interest and have limited evidence available.

Potential Population Reach

Portion of Wisconsin's population likely to be reached by a policy or program if implemented statewide, based on its characteristics (e.g., target population(s), geographic limitations, and potential implementers).

<1%   20-49%
1-9%   50-99%
10-19%   100%

Potential Population Reach

Portion of Wisconsin's population likely to be reached by a policy or program if implemented statewide, based on its characteristics (e.g., target population(s), geographic limitations, and potential implementers).

<1%   20-49%
1-9%   50-99%
10-19%   100%

Potential Impact on Health Disparities

Likely impact of a given policy or program on racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, geographic or other disparities in Wisconsin based on its characteristics (e.g., target audience, mode of delivery, etc.) and best available evidence related to disparities.

  • Likely to decrease disparities
  • No impact on disparities likely
  • Likely to increase disparities