Development of early English language and literacy skills among Spanish-speaking children: does preschool make a difference?

Abstract

This study examined the early English language and literacy skill development of 179 children from 11 Head Start classrooms who participated in an added focus on language and literacy skill-building supported by Early Reading First programme. Of this sample, 118 children were Spanish-speaking English Language Learners (ELL). All children were assessed with a battery of assessments to measure their language and early literacy skills twice each year. Linear growth model analyses show that Spanish-speaking ELLs made significant gains from pre- to post-test after receiving a double dose of an intervention (Head Start and Early Reading First), and there was a significant effect for years enrolled in the programme on Spanish-speaking ELLs.