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Full-Day vs Part-Day Impact
December 11, 2014
This is the best time in my life — the first 80 years are definitely the hardest.
-Carol Channing at 82

"Children who attended a full-day preschool program had higher scores on measures of school readiness skills (language, math, socio-emotional development, and physical health), increased attendance, and reduced chronic absences compared to children who attended part-day preschool," according to a study reported in the November 26 issue of JAMA

"The study consisted of an end-of-preschool follow-up of a group of predominantly low-income, ethnic minority children enrolled in the Child-Parent Centers (CPC) for the full-day (7 hours) or part-day (3 hours on average) in the 2012-2013 school year in 11 schools in Chicago.

"At the end of preschool, the researchers evaluated school readiness skills of the children, attendance and chronic absences, and parental involvement. They found that full-day preschool participants had higher scores than part-day peers on measures of socio-emotional development (58.6 vs. 54.5), language (39.9 vs. 37.3), math (40.0 vs. 36.4), and physical health (35.5 vs. 33.6). Scores for literacy and cognitive development were not significantly different. Full-day preschool graduates also had higher rates of attendance (85.9 percent vs. 80.4 percent) and lower rates of chronic absences."

Larry Schweinhart, former Executive Director of the HighScope Educational Research Foundation, commented on these findings:

“In part, the importance of the study by Reynolds and colleagues is that it represents a contemporary sample of children and their families. As the demand for preschool programs shifts from part-day to full-day, it is important to know whether this shift is educationally valuable as well. The study by Reynolds and colleagues provides evidence that high-quality, full-day programs are educationally more valuable than part-day programs.”

 





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Comments (6)

Displaying 5 of 6 Comments   [ View all ]
B Ott · December 19, 2014
United States


I think the study does make clear it is for low-income families.There are a lot of families in this category but high quality benefits any child.

john toms · December 18, 2014
United States


Based on the summary information I read, increased learning time led to greater readiness skills. This was a high quality program and certainly not routine child care and so this seems to be exactly what we need to know. Most state preschool programs are not full day.

PS · December 11, 2014
el paso, texas, United States


I know that in today's world or at least in the US, there is a push for both parents to work and these parents need some sort of full day child care. Hopefully it can be from a family member.

From my experience it does not matter if the child attends FD or PD; we have both. Generally in the PD program we spend the majority of time providing the educational activities and a short out door and snack period. These come after breakfast and go home for lunch. - nap, additional outdoor play, etc.

these are all the things we do the rest of the day with the children who are in the FD program. We have lunch, get ready for nap, sleep, have snack, go outside, and then participate in more relaxed learning activities.

Aminah Weaver · December 11, 2014
Metropolitan Family Services
Chicago, IL, United States


I disagree with this study. I have worked in a half day program for the last 19 years, and children have been successful. Students often visit me, and they are very successful in school. One student is in medical school, a few students now have their children in our program. Full day does not mean automatic success. Parents being involved is key to students success, full day or half day.

Carol Rich · December 11, 2014
Hermitage, PA, United States


Conclusion is flawed. Study was definitely on low-income, minority children. You can't translate that to all children. Your conclusion should only be for low-income, minority children.



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