[eric.hanke]

Above and Beyond
New study shows MCAS preschool efforts are making a big difference

Craig Davison
For The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - A new study shows students who attend Michigan City Area Schools' preschool program are making significantly positive gains, above and beyond normal expected development.

It also shows preschool students made significant gains regardless of race or socioeconomic status.

Terri Swim and Jonathan Hilpert of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne conducted the study on academic performance in the preschool program for the 2007-2008 school year.

Swim presented her findings to the school board June 23.

Another important aspect of the report? Students who are performing strongly by the end of preschool are more likely to score higher in reading and math in kindergarten. The preschool program also has an increased positive effect on students who receive free or reduced lunch.

In effect, it shows a closing of the "achievement gap" between students who receive free or reduced lunch and the students who pay for lunches.

Swim said one conclusion in the report is that scores on a test given to 3-year-olds entering the early learning program and again to 4-year-olds as they leave it show "over and above expected development," regardless of race or money.

Swim said while the poverty achievement gap was shortened, the racial gap was not impacted in the same way. She said it mirrored a similar result from a study of pre-kindergarten education in Tulsa, Okla.

Assistant Superintendent Jan Radford said that issue is one of the most difficult areas for schools across the country.

She said the study did show the early learning program is helping prepare kids better for kindergarten.

"Essentially, we're giving kids the even start in school that they need," Radford said.

The $11,000 study was approved by the school board last July.

Kent Davis, Eastport Early Childhood Learning Center principal, said the study's results are pleasing.

"It cements what we're doing here and validates what we're doing here," he said.

Eastport, as well as Coolspring and Springfield elementary schools, offer pre-kindergarten classes to all 3- and 4-year-olds who live in the Michigan City Area Schools district.

Because the kindergarten classes are coming to school more prepared, Radford said, the district is changing what it expects from kindergarten students.

"If they're coming in at a higher level, we do have to raise expectations," she said.

Davis said the validation provided by the report helps, because there are no programs like Eastport in Indiana.

"I think our path is uncharted," he said.

Swim said she hopes to follow the data through the third grade, when ISTEP tests are first taken.

The only number the MCND decided to post was the cost. I guess the paper feels that the readers would feel that the low single digit improvements were not "above and beyond".



This is a crock of horse manure and does not deserve to be printed, mentioned, or praised. The article also fails to mention the decline in elementary ISTEP scores and how the number of schools not making AYP has increased.



My blood boils reading this article and I sometimes feel like the newspaper does not have the best interest of the community in mind.



The only thing "above and beyond" are the salaries of MCAS Administrators. Actually they are way "above and beyond" what they should be. And some of them should not even be there.