Efficacy of the Nemours BrightStart! Early Literacy Program: Treatment Outcomes From a Randomized Trial With At-Risk Prekindergartners

ABSTRACT

Research Findings: This study reports outcomes from a randomized, controlled trial of an emergent literacy intervention for prekindergarten children at-risk for reading failure.  Children (N = 2219) in 114 preschools and childcare centers were screened for eligibility in fall.  Children who scored at-risk (n = 476) were randomized to fall or spring treatment and received nine weeks of explicit, multisensory, emergent literacy instruction in small groups provided by early literacy interventionists. Trained observers noted high implementation fidelity.  Pre-reading skills were assessed before and after intervention for both treatment groups.  The spring intervention group served as at-risk controls for children who completed fall intervention.  Three-level, linear growth models (time-student-school) were used to estimate treatment effects, found for print awareness, elision, rhyming, and the screener (print and letter knowledge, phonological awareness), replicating previous findings for the screener, rhyming, and print knowledge, and extending them to elision.  Significantly accelerated growth in print knowledge, elision, rhyming, and the screener was observed during intervention. Practice or Policy:  Results demonstrate benefits of high-quality emergent literacy instruction for children at risk.  Growth in skills for both fall and spring treatment groups following this 18-lesson program supports some implementation flexibility among interventionists with delivery constraints during the year.

Acknowledgments

This article reflects original research from the final year of a multiyear study and extends findings from data provided in previously published reports.

Portions of these data were presented at the annual conference of the National Association of School Psychologists in February 2011 and at the Center for Response to Intervention in Early Childhood conference in September 2011.

The curriculum developed as a result of this research is now available for purchase, for which Nemours receives royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This research was made possible through funding from The Nemours Foundation.