Tempe PRE: Insights into a New Publicly Funded Preschool Program - Policy Report - July 2024

Oct 15, 2026

Tempe PRE: Insights into a new publicly funded preschool program (July 2024) presents a 6-year NORC evaluation of a publicly funded preschool in Tempe, Arizona. The study examines implementation fidelity, communication and relationship quality between teachers and families, and measured impacts on students. Classroom observations show most HighScope curriculum components were implemented with fidelity, including child-directed learning and positive behavior supports. Student findings indicate improved kindergarten readiness, including receptive vocabulary growth, stronger emotional regulation, and better verbalization of emotions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages48

Reading Time2 h 1 min

AccessFree to download

Key Findings

Policy Context

Introduction

Overview of the Tempe PRE program

Methods

2021-2022 Implementation Evaluation

2022-2023 Impact Evaluation

Findings

How Well was Tempe PRE Implemented?

What Impact did Tempe PRE have on Families and Students?

Key Takeaways

Appendices

POLICY REPORT Tempe PRE: Insights into a New Publicly Funded Preschool Program July 2024 We would like to thank the large team that made all of this work possible. This study was a 6-year endeavor and benefited from numerous NORC researchers and staff (past and present) who supported the development of, data collection for, and analysis and meaningmaking from this study: Mitch Barrows, John Francis, Eileen Graf, Melissa Gutwein, Eric Hedberg, Julie Kubelka, Carrie Markovitz, and Lekha Venkataraman. An extreme amount of gratitude also goes to our funders and thought and implementation partners in Tempe, AZ: Julie Norwood, Paul Perrault, Kelly Koenig, Michelle Conroy, and Karen Ortiz at Helios Education Foundation and Marie Raymond, Alicia Tunstall, Catalina Rodriguez Alvarez, Allison Burke, and Dreamlyn Johnson who have been involved in running the Tempe PRE program over these years. This work is only as valuable as it is because of your continuous engagement with our team and genuine interest in what we could all learn from our research. We also thank all of the Tempe Elementary School District staff who shared their expertise with us, provided crucial data, and continuously expressed interest in this work: former Superintendent Christine Busch, current Superintendent Dr. James Driscoll, Brandie Burton, Tracy Harvester, Amy Minniear, and Jennifer Whittington. And last but not least, to all the teachers, parents/caregivers, students, and principals who invited us into their schools and classrooms and shared their experiences with us. Suggested citation: Ehrlich Loewe, S. B., Carrazza, C., Kabourek, S., Gordon, M. F., Hernandez, M. W. (2024) . Tempe PRE: Insights into a new publicly funded preschool program. Chicago, IL: NORC atthe University of Chicago. NORC at the University of Chicago Authors: Stacy B. Ehrlich Loewe, Cristina Carrazza, Sarah Kabourek, Molly F. Gordon, and Marc W. Hernandez Table of Contents 1 Key Findings 3 Policy Context 5 Introduction 7 Overview of the Tempe PRE program 9 Methods 10 2021-2022 Implementation Evaluation 10 2022-2023 Impact Evaluation 11 Who was included in the impact study? 11 2024 Post-study Parent and Teacher Reflections 12 Findings 13 How Well was Tempe PRE Implemented? 13 Overall, teachers implemented the majority of the HighScope curriculum with fidelity. This included incorporating child-directed learning, implementing positive behavior management, and executing conflict resolution approaches that involved child input. 18 Teachers and families had strong communication and positive relationships 20 Tempe PRE teachers had strong training and supports, although consistency broke down during COVID 23 What Impact did Tempe PRE have on Families and Students? 23 Tempe PRE offered parents new opportunities around housing, employment, and schooling 23 Students’ kindergarten outcomes suggest Tempe PRE may positively prepare students for kindergarten 29 Key Takeaways 32 Appendices 33 Appendix A: Implementation Evaluation Methods 33 Sample and selection of schools and classrooms 33 Primary data collection 34 Implementation evaluation analyses 35 Study methodological limitations 35 Appendix B: Impact Evaluation Methods 35 Sample 37 Measures 37 Data collection 38 Data analysis 38 Appendix C: Post-study Parent and Teacher Reflection Meetings 38 Parent meeting 39 Teacher meeting 39 Appendix D. Emotion Regulation Checklist (ERC) 40 Appendix E. Impact Estimation Regression Tables 43 Endnotes Key Findings Tempe PRE was designed as a high-quality preschool program to create more opportunity for children in Tempe. In the 2021-2022 school year, we at NORC at the University of Chicago conducted an evaluation of Tempe PRE to understand how the program was being implemented and its effects on children and families. We also collected students’ outcome data the following year once they entered kindergar

FAQs

What was the purpose of the Tempe PRE program evaluation?

The evaluation assessed how Tempe PRE was implemented and the effects on children and families, including impacts measured through student outcomes after students entered kindergarten.

How well was Tempe PRE implemented according to the report?

Classroom observations indicated teachers implemented the majority of the HighScope curriculum with fidelity, including child-directed learning, positive behavior management, and child-informed conflict resolution approaches.

What impacts on students were highlighted in the findings?

The report states that kindergarten outcomes suggest Tempe PRE may prepare students positively, with higher receptive vocabulary and faster growth than a control group, alongside stronger emotional regulation and improved ability to verbalize emotions.

Oct 15, 2026

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