Final Report Texas Public Prekindergarten Class Size and Student-to- Teacher Ratio Study Contract # 3494 September 2016 Submitted to: Texas Education Agency 1701 N. Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701-1494 Texas Department of Family and Protective Services 701 W. 51st Street Austin, TX 78751 Submitted by: ICF International 9300 Lee Highway Fairfax, VA 22031 and Final Report Texas Public Prekindergarten Class Size and Student-to- Teacher Ratio Study Contract # 3494 September 2016 Submitted to: Texas Education Agency 1701 N. Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701-1494 Texas Department of Family and Protective Services 701 W. 51st Street Austin, TX 78751 Submitted by: ICF International 9300 Lee Highway Fairfax, VA 22031 and ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The ICF International (ICF) team, along with its partner Gibson Consulting Group, Inc., would like to acknowledge the many members of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) their support of this study. They provided valuable information and feedback to ensure that the study team could successfully complete the study. ICF International (NASDAQ:ICFI) is a leading provider of professional services and technology-based solutions to government and commercial clients. ICF is fluent in the language of change, whether driven by markets, technology, or policy. Since 1969, we have combined a passion for our work with deep industry expertise to tackle our clients' most important challenges. We partner with clients around the globe—advising, executing, innovating—to help them define and achieve success. Our more than 5,000 employees serve government and commercial clients from more than 65 offices worldwide. ICF's website is www.icfi.com. For additional information about ICF, please contact: ICF International 9300 Lee Highway Fairfax, VA 22031 Phone: 703-934-3603 or 1-800-532-4783 Fax: 703-934-3740 Email: [email protected] Contributing Authors ICF International Barbara O’Donnel, PhD Shefali Pai-Samant, PhD Thomas Horwood Jackie Taylor Jing Sun Karen Hahn Carolyne Kocot Victoria Honard Gibson Consulting Group, Inc. Joseph Shields Danial Hoepfner Elizabeth Marwah Prepared for Texas Education Agency 1701 N. 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Texas Public Prekindergarten Study Final Report Table of Contents Tables….. ..................................................................................................................................................................... iii Figures….. ................................................................................................................................................................... iv Highlights ..................................................................................................................................................................... v Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................ ES-i Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose of the Study ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Summary of the Study Approach ................................................................................................................. 2 Importance of High-Quality Early Childhood Education Programming ............................................................ 2 Economics and Early Childhood Education ....................................................................................... 3 Early Childhood Education and Brain Development .......................................................................... 3 Prekindergarten and its Impact on School Readiness ....................................................................... 4 Defining High-Quality Early Childhood Education ............................................................................. 5 Early Childhood Education Context in Texas .................................................................................... 6 Study Limitations ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Organization of the Report ............................................................................................................................. 10 Chapter 2: Study Findings ........................................................................................................................................ 11 Findings from the Literature Review .............................................................................................................. 11 Roles of Structural and Process Components in High-Quality Early Childhood Education Programs and their Relationship to Child Outcomes ......................................................................... 11 Evaluations of State-Funded Prekindergarten Programs ................................................................ 13 Class Size and Student-to-Teacher Ratio from National and State Policy Perspectives ................. 16 Literature Review Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 19 Texas Data on Prekindergarten Class Size and Student-to-Teacher Ratio ................................................... 20 Limitations ....................................................................................................................................... 20 Texas Education Agency Data Sources .......................................................................................... 21 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................................. 22 Results….. ....................................................................................................................................... 22 Extant Data Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 24 Observation Study of Prekindergarten Programs in Texas ............................................................................ 25 CLASS PreK Observation Protocol ................................................................................................. 25 Limitations ....................................................................................................................................... 26 Data Collection ................................................................................................................................ 27 Observation Findings ....................................................................................................................... 30 Observation Study Conclusions ...................................................................................................... 42 Key Findings across Study Components ....................................................................................................... 43 Literature Review Study Component Key Findings ......................................................................... 43 Extant Data Analysis Study Component Key Findings .................................................................... 44 Classroom Observation Study Component Key Findings ................................................................ 44 Key Findings across Study Components ......................................................................................... 45 September 2016 i Texas Public Prekindergarten Study Final Report Chapter 3: Recommendations for Future Policy Action about Class Sizes and Student-to-Teacher Ratios for Prekindergarten Classrooms in Texas .....................................................................................................