Project Description:
Project Background:
This study will conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of an extended school year intervention known as the K-3 Plus Program which is currently being piloted with about 7,000 high need students (students served in schools with 85% or more free reduced lunch) each year in New Mexico.
Project Focus:
The study will measure the impact of the increased instructional time on costs and resources as well as on the literacy, numeracy and social skills of students.
K-3 Plus learning opportunities will be provided to 570 English Language Learners (ELL) and students with IEPs under IDEA enrolled in persistently low-performing schools in Gallup-McKinley, Albuquerque, Gadsden, and Las Cruces school districts in Years 1 and 5, and 1,140 students in Years 2,3,and 4. A comparable number of children will be enrolled each year in a control group.
The K-Plus Program intervention includes:
1. A minimum of 25 additional full days in smaller class size.
2. Instruction focused on literacy, math, social skills, arts, adn physical education.
3. Provision of transportation, breakfast and lunch.
4. Profesisonal development training in literacy.
5. Teachers certified in Elementary Education, with minimum of Bachelor's degree.
6. A parent involvement component.
Major goals and outcomes include:
GOAL 1: Determine the cost-effectiveness of K-3 Plus in reducing the student achievement gap for students in low performing schools in grades Kindergarten through Grade 3.
GOAL 2: Use the evidence obtained through this investigation to support scale-up and replication of the K-3 Plus Program intervention in New Mexico and to support, implement and tailor the Extended School Year intervention to meet the needs of diverse students and schools in other regions of the U.S.
CPD is partnering with the New Mexico LEAs, Gallup-McKinley, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Gadsden school districts, New Mexico State University (NMSU), the New Mexico State Public Education Department, and the New Mexico Office of Educational Accountability. LEA staff in the four participating school districts will recruit families and students in the spring prior to kindergarten in AYP status eligible schools to participate in the randomized control study.
Staff at USU and NMSU will conduct the independent evaluation of the K-3 Plus intervention and establish and implement research protocols for LEAs.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Specific Groups
