LA4: Louisiana Statewide Pre-K Program
Louisiana State Department of Education: LA4
Region II Education Service Center
Hammond, Louisiana 70403
Louisiana's Bill 776, passed in 2001, provides for the establishment of a statewide pre-kindergarten program, LA 4, to serve four-year-old children not currently enrolled in publicly funded pre-K classes. The purpose of the program is to provide high quality early childhood education to four-year-old children who are at risk for learning difficulties and to improve the children's readiness to begin school. The Louisiana State Department of Education administers LA4. It is implemented jointly through funds from TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and state allocated funds. Currently, 19 parishes participate in the program.
The ECERS-R is used to ensure that high-quality early childhood programs are being provided through LA4. ECERS-R assessments were performed on a sample of 22 LA4 classrooms during the pilot year (2001-2002). The overall rating was "good" -- a score of 5.7 -- which was higher than the average rating of many other states' pre-K classrooms.
The Louisiana Department of Education contracted with the LSU Health Sciences Center and the UAB Civitan International Research Center to conduct program evaluation activities and to develop and implement a design for longitudinal research. Analysis of pre- and post-tests of 1,358 students participating in the pilot year found statistically significant improvement on a developing skills checklist that covered math, language and print.
Ellen Howell: Ellen Howell@DOE.state.la.us
fax: (985) 549 2864