Bedrock
We care about how children are doing and want them to succeed in life. That’s why we’ve taken a close look at what the research says about the earliest years of a child’s life, and the kinds of factors we might influence to set children on a trajectory to succeed.
When grappling with complicated questions, such as When is a child ready for kindergarten? and How do we close the achievement gap?, it’s not enough to reach for the latest study.
We must be selective about the research that informs our decisions. One of the most important components to consider in any research study is the design. This includes how children, families, and early care and education providers were selected for participation in the study, the measurement tools that were used, and how information was analyzed. These elements contribute to the validity and reliability of a research study. Additionally, studies that are designed to access program efficacy and effectiveness yield important information for scale-up efforts.
We also acknowledge that decades of consistent research provide a more solid foundation to stand on than any single study can provide. The following studies are just a few examples of sound experimental research that has accumulated over the past four decades relating to interventions in the early years of children at-risk. A brief description, summary of major findings, and implications are provided for each study.
