​Preschoolers in urban, racial minority, and low-income communities are at greater risk for experiencing low levels of school readiness, an important negative contributor to disparities in achievement. Socioemotional learning (SEL) programs in preschool have the potential not only to improve preschool children’s school readiness and decrease the risk of school failure, but also to promote social and behavioral competencies, particularly when implemented with consistency. Implementing these programs can be overwhelming, time-intensive and challenging. Pre-K TIPS is a coaching model designed to support SEL program implementation. This model targets both implementer and setting barriers to implementation common among preschools in at-risk communities including: lack of support from colleagues and leaders at work, teacher dissatisfaction with work, burn out, or low confidence in ability to teach SEL, and concerns about the overall SEL program being implemented.

                                                                                         About the Study
Project DIRECT, led by Dr. Courtney Baker, is seeking funding from the U.S. Department of Education (Institute of Education Sciences Initial Efficacy Project; total costs ~$3,300,000; active study years 2020-2024) to evaluate Project Pre-K TIPS in Orleans Parish. We have engaged in partnership-based research with teachers, children, and families in Orleans Parish for the last seven years.
 
What is Project Pre-K TIPS?

• Pre-K TIPS is a brief, free, evidence-based, and stakeholder-informed integrated classroom-behavior management (CBM) and socioemotional learning (SEL) curriculum for preschool classrooms that includes three primary components:
  • Seven classroom behavior management strategies for teachers;
  • An eight-lesson social skills training curriculum for preschoolers, delivered by teachers and including materials to promote parent involvement; and
  • Early childhood consultation for children with behavioral, emotional, or social concerns.
• All teachers are supported by coaching throughout the intervention.
• The goal of Pre-K TIPS is to improve preschoolers’ school readiness.

 
What aspect of Project Pre-K TIPS is being evaluated in the research study?

• The coaching model is what is being evaluated. Preschool programs will be randomized to one of two coaching models, both of which are known to effectively support preschool teachers. All programs will receive the same CBM and SEL curriculum.  

 
What do we already know about Pre-K TIPS?

• We piloted Pre-K TIPS in nine preschool classrooms in Orleans Parish. Teachers liked the program, thought it provided great coaching support, and found it to be accessible and appropriate for both the children and their families.
• The program was associated with improvements in teachers’ classroom behavior management, children’s academic competence, and children’s behavior problems.

 
Who will participate in the research study?

• Prekindergarten programs embedded within public charter schools, Head Starts, and community childcare programs serving at least 50% low-income children located in Orleans Parish.
• About 150 preschool teachers, their co-teachers, and their preschoolers will participate.

 
What will I be asked to do if I am in the research study?

• All teachers and directors/preschool leaders will participate in one four-hour professional development training the summer before their active year in the study.
• During the school year, teachers will receive the Pre-K TIPS curriculum and coaching.
• Teachers and directors/preschool leaders will report on themselves, and teachers will report on their preschoolers at the beginning and end of the year. Teachers will report on their implementation of the curriculum throughout the study. Our team will assess preschoolers’ school readiness skills, ask preschoolers’ caregivers for information, and observe the classroom.
• Participants will be paid for their time during training and for completing measures.