In October 2013, as part of their ongoing research on the impact of Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program, the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) released data to the public for the very first time on the academic performance of First Class Pre-K students. PARCA’s careful analysis of existing state ARMT scores shows that students who participated in Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program academically outperform their peers once they reach elementary school, and the advantages conferred by pre-k participation persist at least through the 6th grade.
The research shows that the positive academic effects are particularly strong for pre-k participants who come from lower income households – and that First Class Pre-K participation closed the achievement gap for lower income students by an average of 25 percent.
Read more on our website, in PARCA’s October 2013 Newsletter and on AL.com.
