Findings from the High School Years
A Project of the Council for A Better Louisiana
Research Team: Dr. Gary Asmus, Dr. Billy Stokes, Dr. Sharon Ramey, and Dr. Craig Ramey
INTRODUCTION
During the last half of the 20th century, numerous basic research projects across the United States affirmed the benefits of early childhood education programs, particularly for children from low-income families and children with disabilities. Improvements were demonstrated in areas of school readiness, reduced special education enrollment, state test performance, dropouts, suspensions, expulsions, and higher graduation rates.
In response to that work, the Louisiana Legislature passed Act 1146 in 2001 creating the Cecil J. Picard LA 4 Early Childhood Program. Its goal was to provide widespread access to high-quality early childhood education for children from economically-disadvantaged households. This study looks at the impacts of the LA 4 program on its first three cohorts of students, and for the first time, traces their academic achievements through high school.
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