ECEAP Impact on Early Learners
A retrospective study completed by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) concluded the impact of ECEAP on later student test scores is nearly twice the average effect of early education programs in other states. When compared to similar non-participants, children who participated in ECEAP had:
- A 23 percent higher passing rate on the state fifth-grade reading test.
- A 16 percent higher passing rate on the state fifth-grade math test.
This means children in ECEAP are outperforming their peers five or six years after their last participation in ECEAP. WSIPP is currently engaging in a study to evaluate high school test results and graduate rates for the cohort in the 2014 study. These exceptional short and long term outcomes are the result of ECEAP’s holistic design.
We find that ECEAP participants have higher academic test scores in third, fourth, and fifth grades than similar children who do not attend the program. The effect of ECEAP on test scores is nearly twice the average effect of early childhood education programs in other states (p.13).
(Source: Outcome Evaluation of Washington State’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, Washington State Institute of Public Policy, 2014)
The National Research Council’s report, From Neurons to Neighborhoods, concludes that environmental factors play a crucial role in children’s development, especially during the early years. As a result, it is important to provide low-income children and families with additional services to promote child development. A recent review of studies on health and nutrition services for low-income children indicates that children are less likely to receive physical and dental check-ups and follow-up care and tend to have a less nutritional diet compared to children enrolled in Head Start, where these comprehensive services are a requirement of the program.
