Our Work

Maryland’s Preschool Development Expansion Grant Program

Federal Preschool Development Grants were awarded in 2014 to help states expand the availability of high-quality preschool for high-need communities. In a two-part study, PEARL is employing a regression discontinuity design (RDD) to investigate the impact of pre-k expansion in Maryland on students’ school readiness. Further aims of the project include: 1) examining the moderating role of family factors; and 2) examining whether pre-k participation buffers children against the impact of toxic stress.

Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s Quality Improvement Network

The aim of Early Head Start (EHS)—Child Care (CC) partnerships is to increase access to high-quality childcare for infants and toddlers for low-income working families. In Washington DC, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is utilizing an EHS-CC grant to meet this goal through the establishment of a Quality Improvement Network (QIN). PEARL is conducting an implementation and impact evaluation to understand QIN’s effects on participating children, families, providers, and programs.

Educare

Educare schools employ a model of center-based early childhood care and education that leverages data utilization, embedded professional development, high-quality teaching practices and intensive family engagement to benefit children and families living in poverty. Since its inception, PEARL has been the external evaluation partner with Educare Washington, DC, implementing an on-going national evaluation of the Educare model. Evaluation activities include assessments of children’s development and achievement, parent and teacher surveys, and classroom quality assessments.