These 15 Model ECCE programs were generally of higher quality than public programs. They tend to have higher qualified staff, closer supervision, lower child-staff ratio, and smaller group sizes. They varied in services offered. Most offered home visits and tons of other parent support and developmental programs. 

Model Programs 

- No children were enrolled in the programs before the age of three 
- Part-day programs 
- Head Start programs had broader missions: improving health and nutrition, and providing services to parents
- Larger group sizes 
- Poor teacher pay 
- Variation in the quality of education 

Head Start, State, and Local Programs

36 studies were divided into two categories: 
- 15 studies researchers developed their own ECCE programs to study the effects of exemplary, or model programs 
- 21 studies researchers studied the effects of on-going, large-scale public ECCE programs 

In the 21 studies: 
-  Five examined state or local programs 
-  Five examined children who attended Head Start, state, or local programs  
-  Eleven examined Head Start programs 

Arizona State University

Research all meets four criteria: 
- The ECCE program was studied at the age of four or earlier (no kindergarten programs)
- The target population studied at the ECCE program were economically disadvantaged children 
- At least one aspect of cognitive development, school progress, or socialization was measured after age of eight 
- No-treatment comparison group was included that was reasonably similar to the target group 

Research on Long Term Effects of ECCE


  W. Steven Barnett. (1995). Long-Term Effects of Early Childhood Programs on Cognitive and School Outcomes. The Future of Children, 5(3), 25–50. https://doi.org/10.2307/1602366


The Long Term Effects of Early Childhood Programs on Cognitive and School Outcomes 

Division of the Research Studies 

Factors measured in the studies: 
- Effects on IQ
- Effects on achievement 
- Effects on school progress and placement 
- Effects on Socialization 
- Effects of Add-on Schoolage Services

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