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Early Childhood Development Programs: Comprehensive, Center-Based Programs for Children of Low-Income Families

Comprehensive, center-based early childhood development programs are defined as publicly funded comprehensive preschool programs designed to improve the cognitive and social development of children, aged 3 to 5 years, at risk because of family poverty. Programs reviewed included Head Start as well as other early childhood programs serving disadvantaged families.

Summary of Task Force Recommendations & Findings

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends publicly-funded, center-based, comprehensive early childhood development programs for low income children aged 3 to 5 years based on strong evidence of their effectiveness on preventing delay of cognitive development and increasing readiness to learn, as assessed by reductions in grade retention and placement in special education classes.

The Task Force finds insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of early childhood development programs on social cognition and social risk behaviors because findings were limited to the longitudinal results of a single program.

Evidence is also insufficient to determine the effectiveness of early childhood programs on child health screening outcomes and family outcomes because of a lack of sufficient comparative studies examining these outcomes.

Task Force Finding

 

About the Intervention

The early childhood development programs reviewed are “center-based” (i.e., in a public school or child development center), providing an alternative physical and social environment to the home.

Results from the Systematic Reviews

Seventeen studies qualified for the review.

  • The review assessed four different categories of outcomes: cognitive, social, health, and family.
  • Nine studies measured academic achievement through use of standardized academic achievement assessments, such as the Woodcock-Johnson or California Achievement Test.
    • Six studies demonstrated increases in academic achievement for students enrolled in early childhood development programs.
    • One study reported a negative effect.
    • Two studies provided no data to calculate effect sizes.
    • Academic achievement scores increased by a median of 0.35 standard deviations.
  • School readiness: median effect size of 0.38 standard deviations (3 studies)
  • IQ: median effect size of 0.43 standard deviations (6 studies)
    • Although these results are positive, the influence of this gain in IQ on longer-term health and social outcomes is not known.
  • Student retention: program participants were 13% less likely to be retained (“held back“) in grade level (5 studies)
  • Placement in special education programs: program participants were 14% less likely to be placed in special education programs (5 studies)
  • Some reviewed programs included a home visitation component.
  • Reviewed Programs operated full or half days, 9 to 12 months a year.

These findings were based on a systematic review of all available studies, conducted on behalf of the Task Force by a team of specialists in systematic review methods, and in research, practice and policy related to the social environment.

Supporting Materials

Publications

Anderson LM, Shinn C, Fullilove MT, et al. The effectiveness of early childhood development programs: A systematic review. Adobe PDF File [PDF - 2.30MB] Am J Prev Med 2003;24(3S):S32-46.

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Recommendations to promote healthy social environments. Adobe PDF File [PDF - 72KB] Am J Prev Med 2003;2003;24(3S):S21-4.

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. The social environment. Adobe PDF File [PDF - 386KB] In : Zaza S, Briss PA, Harris KW, eds. The Guide to Community Preventive Services: What Works to Promote Health? Atlanta (GA): Oxford University Press;2005:329-84.

More Community Guide publications about Promoting Health Through the Social Environment



Disclaimer

The findings and conclusions on this page are those of the Community Preventive Services Task Force and do not necessarily represent those of CDC.

Sample Citation

The content of publications of the Guide to Community Preventive Services is in the public domain. Citation as to source, however, is appreciated. Sample citation: Guide to Community Preventive Services. Early childhood cevelopment programs: comprehensive, center-based programs for children of low-income families www.thecommunityguide.org/social/centerbasedprograms.html. Last updated: MM/DD/YYYY.

Review completed: June 2000