The Prediction of State Progress in the Implementation of Public Law 99-457, Part H

The purpose of this study was to examine the ability of several state characteristics to predict progress in the implementation of Part H of P.L. 99-457. This analysis utilizes two scales developed by investigators at the Carolina Policy Studies Program. One is intended to measure four potentially influential characteristics of the states: political climate, resources, policies, and interagency systems related to Part H. The second scale is an indicator of the progress states are making in the three stages of policy implementation (policy development, policy approval, and policy application). This study reports findings regarding the relationships between geographic region and state progress, as well as between influential characteristics and progress in the three stages of policy implementation. No statistically significant differences were found in state progress by geographic region. However, the four influential characteristics together predicted overall state progress and progress in each of the three stages. The dimension of system uniquely accounted for a significant proportion of variance in overall state progress, and progress in policy development and policy approval. The results suggest that an administrative structure, mechanisms, and process that promote multiagency planning are important to the successful implementation of Part H of P.L. 99-457.     

Is Skill Type the Key to the PreK Fadeout Puzzle? Differential Associations Between Enrollment in PreK and Constrained and Unconstrained Skills Across Kindergarten

This study examines whether associations between enrollment in public and non-public PreK and children’s (N = 508; M_age = 5.60 years in fall of kindergarten) math and language and literacy outcomes were more likely to be sustained through the spring of kindergarten for unconstrained versus constrained skills. Associations between public PreK and language, literacy, and math outcomes were more strongly sustained through the spring of kindergarten for unconstrained skills, relative to constrained skills. Only associations between non-public PreK and unconstrained language skills were sustained through the spring of kindergarten. Associations in the fall of kindergarten differed by family income and dual language learner (DLL) status but there was no subgroup variation by the spring of kindergarten. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.     

The persuasive effects of statistical evidence in the presence of exemplars

This paper explores the impact of statistical evidence by varying it while pairing it with a constant set of exemplars. The resulting design includes a condition in which the statistical information and the exemplars advocate the same position (consistent condition), one in which statistical information and the exemplars advocate different positions (inconsistent condition), and a third condition in which only exemplars are presented (control condition). The data indicate that statistical evidence has a substantial effect on judgments, and that the impact of statistical evidence on attitudes is indirect. Specifically, it is mediated by judgments.     

Using Text Talk as a Gateway to Culturally Responsive Teaching

In 3 second-grade classrooms within diverse educational settings, the theory of culturally responsive teaching was utilized in combination with the strategy, Text Talk. Text Talk is a strategy generally used with young children during read-alouds to foster oral language and comprehension. Culturally response teaching builds on students' prior experiences and knowledge. Together, the use of Text Talk and culturally responsive teaching provides a gateway to support young children's literacy.     

Letter writing instruction for children: Case-sensitive letter frequencies in children’s handwriting workbooks

Reading and Writing - Children’s ability to write letters automatically has been linked to academic achievement. Despite the importance of handwriting, handwriting instruction is often...