Effects of the North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program - Findings through Pre-K of a Small-Scale RCT Study - 2017-2018 Statewide Evaluation

Oct 15, 2026

Research examines the effects of the North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten program using findings through pre-K from a small-scale randomized controlled trial. The 2017–2018 statewide evaluation is presented with an explicit purpose for the randomized controlled trial study, covering study design, feasibility, random assignment process, and participant groups including children and families, teachers and classrooms. Data collection procedures and measures include child assessments, teacher surveys, parent surveys, classroom observations, and state administrative data, followed by weighted analyses to address potential bias and statistical comparisons reporting treatment effects using full-sample approaches such as intent-to-treat and treatment-on-treated.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages63

Reading Time2 h 39 min

AccessFree to download

Overview of the NC Pre-K Program

Purpose of the NC Pre-K Evaluation – Randomized Controlled Trial Study

Method

Study Design

Participants

Data Collection Procedures

Measures

Analysis Approach

Results

NC Pre-K Program Evaluation Project Effects of the North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program Findings through Pre-K of a Small-Scale RCT Study 2017-2018 Statewide Evaluation Ellen Peisner-Feinberg, PhD, Sabrina Zadrozny, PhD, Laura Kuhn, PhD, & Karen Van Manen, PhD © February 2019 by Ellen S. Peisner-Feinberg, FPG Child Development Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We wish to acknowledge the members of our NC Pre-K Program Evaluation Team who provided invaluable support and effort to conduct this study. Research staff – Dr. Treshawn Anderson, Shannon Casey, Alexis Kokoska, Tom Leggett, Cristina LunaEvans, Judith Owen, Andrea Reubens, Maria Sanchez, Stefanie Schwartz, and Gina Walker. Data collectors – Shaunna Barbee, Carol Carter, Laura Clay, Evadine Codd, Kristine Cortina, Kelly Downing, Lori Dwyer, Aaron Freeman, Isaura Godinez, Kate Hodge, Diana Knechtel, Martha Lee, Cyndee Lohr, Dr. Irina Mokrova, Rosemary McNiel, Cecilia Pepper, Jeremy Pienik, Quinny Sanchez Lopez, Karen Stewart, Tia Walt McCallum, Towanda White-Miller and Susan Wyland Witek. Statistical consultant – Dr. Margaret Burchinal. In addition, we offer our appreciation to all those who participated in and assisted with this study, including the children and families, and the teachers, administrators, and other staff in the pre-k programs, and the staff of the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education, Department of Health and Human Services. Cover by Gina Harrison. Suggested citation: Peisner-Feinberg, E., Zadrozny, S., Kuhn, L., & Van Manen, K. (2019). Effects of the North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program: Findings through Pre-K of a Small-Scale RCT Study. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina, FPG Child Development Institute. This study was funded by the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education, Department of Health and Human Services. The opinions expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect those of the funding agency. Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................. 3 List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................ 4 Overview of the NC Pre-K Program .............................................................................................................. 5 Purpose of the NC Pre-K Evaluation – Randomized Controlled Trial Study.................................................. 6 Method ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Study Design ............................................................................................................................................. 7 Feasibility Study .................................................................................................................................... 7 Random Assignment Process ................................................................................................................ 7 Participants ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Children/Families .................................................................................................................................. 8 Teachers/Classrooms ............................................................................................................................ 9 Data Collection Procedures....................................................................................................................... 9 Measures..............................................................................................

FAQs

What is the purpose of this North Carolina Pre-K evaluation?

The purpose is to evaluate the NC Pre-K program through a randomized controlled trial study and report findings through pre-K.

How does the study define its participants and settings?

Participants include children/families and teachers/classrooms, with data collected across these groups during the evaluation period.

What data sources and measures are used in the study?

The study uses child assessments, teacher surveys, parent surveys, classroom observations, and state administrative data, with results analyzed using statistical comparisons and weighting to address potential bias.

Oct 15, 2026

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