Utah High-Quality School Readiness Expansion Program Evaluation

This report presents the findings from the 2017-2018 evaluation of the High-Quality School Readiness Expansion (HQSR-E) program conducted by the Evaluation and Training Institute. The evaluation aimed to assess the impact of high-quality preschool programs on children's school readiness, focusing on three implementation models: public, private, and home/computer-based preschools. The study utilized a pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental design to compare literacy, social-emotional development, and math achievement outcomes between children enrolled in high-quality preschools and those in a comparison group. Key findings indicate that a majority of high-quality preschool students entered kindergarten with average or above-average literacy skills. Notably, children in the UPSTART program demonstrated higher literacy scores compared to their counterparts. However, no significant differences were observed in math skills across the program models. Recommendations for future evaluations and program enhancements are also discussed, emphasizing the need for continued assessment of long-term impacts and the integration of additional evaluation measures.