This study examined relations between children’s attention span-persistence in preschool and later school achievement and college completion. Children were drawn from the Colorado Adoption Project using adopted and non-adopted children (N = 430). Results of structural equation modeling indicated that children’s age 4 attention span-persistence significantly predicted math and reading...
BACKGROUND: School-based social-emotional and character development (SECD) programs can influence not only SECD, but also academic-related outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of one SECD program, Positive Action (PA), on educational outcomes among low-income, urban youth.
METHODS: The longitudinal study used a matched-pair, cluster-randomized controlled...
PURPOSE—We examined the effects of Positive Action (PA), a school-based social-emotional learning and health promotion program, on the emotional health of predominately low-income and ethnic minority urban youth.
METHODS—The study was a matched-pair, cluster-randomized controlled trial involving 14 Chicago public schools. Outcomes were assessed over a 6-year period of program...
The current study examines the effects of prekindergarten quality and quantity on externalizing
behavior problems for children living in non-parental care, compared to other children from
socioeconomically at-risk backgrounds. Data were obtained from the Head Start Impact Study.
Non-parental care was defined as a primary caregiver other than a biological,...
Children’s behavioral self-regulation and executive function (EF; including attentional or
cognitive flexibility, working memory, and inhibitory control) are strong predictors of
academic achievement. The present study examined the psychometric properties of a
measure of behavioral self-regulation called the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders (HTKS) by
assessing construct validity, including relations to EF measures, and...
The present study examined the efficacy of a self-regulation intervention for children experiencing demographic risk. Utilizing a randomized controlled design, analyses examined if children (N = 276 children in 14 Head Start classrooms; M age = 51.69, SD = 6.55) who participated in an 8-week self-regulation intervention demonstrated greater gains...