A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Studies of Education Reform

Early Childhood Reform in Seven Communities

Front-Line Practice, Agency Management ,
and Public Policy

October 1996

Table of Contents

Title Page
Preface
Acknowledgments

• I. Executive Summary
  • Context.
  • Research Design
  • Findings
  • Policy Recommendations
  • Recommendations for Improving Practice
• II. Summary Review of the Literature
  • Research on Child Care and Prekindergarten Programs
  • Research on Parent Education and Family Support Programs
  • Research on Public Policy for Young Children and Families
  • Summary
• III. Study Aims and Study Questions
  • Research Purposes, Audiences and Questions
  • Site Selection and Program Characteristics
• IV. Case Study Summaries
• V. Cross-Site Analysis
  • Strategies to Support Child Development
  • Strategies to Serve and Involve Families
  • Management Strategies: Fundraising and Building High Quality Services
  • Policy Influences in Local Agencies
• VI. Assessment of the Outcomes of Reforms
  • Evaluation Strategies
  • Findings From Evaluation Studies
  • Findings From Focus Group Interviews
  • Conclusions
• VII. Assessment of the Resources Required to Implement Reforms
  • Financial Resources
  • Managerial Resources
  • Staff Resources
  • Conclusions
• VIII. Implications for Policy and Practice
  • Policy Implications
  • Implications for Improving Practice
• IX. Implications for Future Research
  • Monitoring Early Childhood Policy and Implementation
  • Documenting Action Strategies
  • Participant-Driven Evaluation
• Bibliography
• Table 1 Case Study Site Characteristics
• Table 2 Services for Parents and Families
• Table 3 Characteristics of Evaluations in the Program Sites

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