Economic Disparities: SPARK Ohio and Narrowing the Kindergarten Readiness Gap

Child Development Research

Jessica L. Mulvany^5¹  Jennifer A. Bryant^4²  Rebecca Fischbein^2³  Kimberly Laurene^5⁴  Thomas A. DeLuca^3⁵  Deric R. Kenne^1⁶ 

[1] Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA^6;College of Public Health Kent State University, USA^4;Department of Family and Community Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4209 St. Rt. 44, Rootstown, Ohio 44272, P.O. Box 95, USA^2;Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, Kent State University, 750 Hilltop Drive, Lowry Hall P.O. Box 5190 Kent, OH 44242-0001, USA^5;Educational Leadership Policy Studies, School of Education, University of Kansas, 1122 West Campus Road, JRP 409, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA^3;The Center for Public Policy Health, College of Public Health, Kent State University, USA^1

DOI  :  10.1155/2018/4383792

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Hindawi Publishing Corporation

【 摘 要 】

The present study investigated the extent to which children of various economic backgrounds were prepared for kindergarten literacy activities, as measured by the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment-Literacy (KRA-L). The study also assessed the extent to which children’s economic disadvantagement status moderates the relationship between KRA-L scores and the level of participation in SPARK Ohio, an early education intervention focused on increasing parental engagement and advocacy. KRA-L scores for children entering kindergarten in fall 2012 were analyzed for 548 SPARK Ohio participants and 1594 comparison children. Both SPARK Ohio and comparison children identified as economically disadvantaged scored significantly lower on the KRA-L, compared to children not classified as economically disadvantaged. Economic disadvantage status may moderate the influence of participating in SPARK Ohio; children identified as economically disadvantaged scored significantly higher on the KRA-L when they participated in SPARK Ohio, compared to those that did not participate in SPARK Ohio.

【 授权许可】

CC BY