| The preschool years are crucial for children's social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and language development. Children benefit greatly from the early learning experience in Head Start and other preschool programs as these programs are known to contribute greatly to children's school success. This dissertation was designed to examine and evaluate the components of the existing pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) program and the local Head Start program in order to determine whether the components are aligned with state standards in preparing children for success in school. Evaluation of the programs was conducted through interviews and questionnaires. The results of this study indicate that more than half of the children entering kindergarten from Head Start and the local Pre-K were equipped with early learning skills that are known to enhance academic achievement. These skills are consistent with the core performance indicators in the New York State Core Curriculum for Literacy and Mathematics. |
