The Early Prevention of School Failure program purports to identify children ages 4 to 6 who are at risk for school failure and to remediate problem areas before the failure becomes apparent. Though the program enjoys widespread use and popular acclaim, its effectiveness has not been adequately demonstrated. Unlike many other preschool screening measures, EPSF has not been subjected to rigorous experimental scrutiny. This study was designed to (1) examine then assess the efficacy of the EPSF intervention component.Subjects were 116 kindergarten students in an Indiana public school district. Students were pretested on the PPVT-R, VMI, PLS, and MAS. Based on their test performance, students were classified at risk or not at predictive validity of the screening battery and risk in five skill areas: auditory perception, visual perception, language, fine motor, and gross motor. Experimental subjects received daily remedial instruction in each deficit area. Comparison subjects participated only in the regular kindergarten program. At the end of the year subjects were posttested on the EPSF battery. The Metropolitan Readiness Tests were administered as a measure of kindergarten success. In addition, teachers rated each student's overall achievement.Canonical analysis was performed to assess the predictive validity of the EPSF screening battery. Results indicated that 39% of the variability in kindergarten achievement could be explained by the synthetic predictor variable. The PPVT-R, PLS, and VMI were approximately equally weighted as predictors, with MAS scores adding little to the prediction equation.Analysis of covariance was applied to test the significance of the treatment effect after controlling for initial student differences. There was no difference at the .05 level between adjusted mean scores for experimental and comparison subjects. Children in regular kindergarten classes performed as well at the end of the year as those who received special remedial instruction in addition to the kindergarten curriculum.It was concluded that EPSF is as effective as many other kindergarten screening programs in predicting learning difficulty. Claims made regarding the program's prevention of such difficulty were not supported by the data.

The purpose of this study was to examine the individual and collective relationships between and among sets of predictor variables obtained from an ecological preschool screening model and criterion variables designed to assess performance in kindergarten. A second purpose of this research was to determine the unique contribution of parental input within the ecological preschool screening model. Fall screening included an individually administered standardized test, the Bracken Basic Concept Scale (BBCS), and a structured parent interview, the Minnesota Preschool Inventory (MPI). The BBCS and the Developmental Scale (DEVEL) of the MPI constituted the set of predictor variables. The criterion set of performance measures included a group administered standardized testing procedure, the Metropolitan Readiness Test (MRT), and a teacher rating scale, the Teacher Rating Scale-Spring (TRS-S), completed in the spring of the kindergarten year.Canonical correlation analysis was used to examine the interrelationships between the two sets ofvariables and to determine the best possible combinationof variables for predicting kindergarten achievement. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the unique contribution of parental input for predicting kindergarten achievement over and above that information supplied by the standardized test.The results of this study supported the use of an ecological model for predicting kindergarten performance. The information gained from parental input and standardized testing contributed significantly and uniquely to the composite of the predictor set. There was both a statistically significant and a meaningfully significant relationship between the screening procedures completed at the beginning of the school year (the BBCS and the DEVEL) and the assessment procedures done at the end of the school year (the MRT and the TRS-S) when these four variables were considered simultaneously.The use of parental input was supported by the multiple regression analyses. Information gained by structured parent interview had something statistically significant, meaningful, and unique to contribute to the prediction of kindergarten performance over and above that information gained from the individually administered standardized test. / Department of Educational Psychology

The purpose of the present study was to examine the nature of the relationship between data gathered during the preschool and kindergarten years and later academic achievement. Children were selected from a group of white, lower to middle-class participants who were screened during a child find procedure and pre-school round-up in the Spring of 1990 and kindergarten screening in 1991. Of the 257 subjects originally screened, 165 were located for theidentified as having complete data. There were approximately equal numbers of male (n=38) and female (n=32) subjects.The following research questions were addressed:1. What is the nature of the relationship between preschool screening and later achievement?2. What is the nature of the relationship between kindergarten screening and later achievement?3. What is the nature of the relationship between preschool and kindergarten screening?The preschool and kindergarten screening data were archival in nature. Preschool screening consisted of the, purposes of this study. However, only 70 subjects were administration of the Bracken Basic Concept Scale (BBCS), Preschool Prediction Minnesota Preschool Inventory (MPI), and the Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration (DVMI). Kindergarten screening consisted of administration of the Metropolitan Readiness Test (MRT), Bracken Basic Concept Scale, and the Children's Learning Abilities Scale (CLAS).The second grade achievement data was collected by the current researcher. This data set consisted of the administration of the Children's Learning Abilities Scale to each child's teacher and collection of Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress (ISTEP) scores.Results of canonical correlation analyses and post hoc analyses of separate multiple regressions for each dependent variable indicated that the Bracken total battery score, the Children's Learning Abilities Scale, and the Developmental scale of the Minnesota Preschool Inventory consistently accounted for a significant proportion of individual differences in later measures.Taken individually and with other kindergarten variables, teacher ratings proved to be the best predictors of second grade achievement. This is supportive of earlier research using structured teacher ratings as accurate predictors of children's school success (Graue & Shepard, 1988). However, we must continue to enhance our knowledge concerning the utility of preschool and kindergarten screening procedures. / Department of Educational Psychology

The purpose of the study was to investigate the construct and criterion validity of a shortened form of the Total Individual Progress Level I Pre-kindergarten Screen (TIP-SF). The subjects for the analysis of construct validity were 342 students from a rural and suburban school district in east-central Indiana who were administered the TIP-SF prior to kindergarten entrance during the years 1985 and 1986. The subjects for the analysis of criterion validity were a subset of 153 students who were administered the TIP and TIP-SF prior to kindergarten entrance in 1985, and were subsequently administered the PMARP prior to their first grade year in 1986.Principal components analysis with varimax rotation was conducted to evaluate the underlying constructs of TIP-SF. From the 28 items entered as variables, 10 factors with eigenvalues greater than 1.00 emerged. One-, two-, three-, four-, and five-factor solutions were successively imposed and evaluated. The solution containing four factors,Scholastic Aptitude, Motor, Eye/Hand Coordination, and Communication, was selected as the "best" solution. The obtained factors were similar in number, but dissimilar in nature to the pre-established subscales.Simple and step-wise multiple regression and canonical correlation analyses were used to evaluate the relative ability of scores obtained from TIP and TIP-SF to predict performance on Primary Mental Abilities Readiness Profile (PMARP) subtests. In each of the four canonical analyses, one significant and meaningful correlation between the sets of predictor and criterion variables was obtained. Step-wise multiple regression analyses were used to determine more specifically the predictive ability of TIP and TIP-SF factors and pre-established subscales. Zero-order correlations were computed between the TIP and TIP-SF total scores and the PMARP subscales.Overall, the results of these analyses indicate that the use of the TIP total score provides the best prediction of PMARP subscales. While the TIP-SF total score reliability is comparable to that for the TIP total score, it was not generally as highly related to the PMARP subscale scores. The linear composites of the TIP and TIP-SF factor scores and TIP pre-established subscale scores were approximately equivalent to one another for the prediction of PMARP scores.

Thesis (M. Ed.)--Kutztown University, 1988. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2763. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-79).

The primary purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among ideational fluency, conformity, and locus of control in preschool children. Forty-five children (50 to 61 months) from three child care centers were administered the conformity task, the Preschool and Primary Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Scale (PPNS-IE), the Multidimensional Stimulus Fluency Measure CMSFM), and the Information and Picture Completion subtests of the WPPSI. The findings from this study were mixed in their support of previous research. Results indicated that children with an internal locus of control were more often males and gave fewer original responses than children with an external locus of control. Children with high IQ's gave a greater frequency of popular and total responses on the MSFM and were less conforming than children scoring Iowan IQ. No significant relationships existed among the other variables, and no significant interaction was shown to exist between conformity and locus of control as they affected ideational fluency. / Master of Science

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The purpose of this study was to compare thirty-two childrens' performances on the Daberon-2 Screening for School Readiness and the Early Screening Inventory , as well as determine whether there was a correlation between the tests. This study responded to the needs of the local Portland, Oregon area schools, some of which use these tests, to investigate the tests, and explore the possibility of using the shorter ESI over the longer Daberon. The reasoning behind the goal of the study was to determine that if the two tests showed a strong, positive correlation and identified the same children as needing further assessment, then perhaps the test which was shorter to administer could be used with confidence as a faster, but equally reliable 2 pre-kindergarten screening tool. In other words, if a child "passes" the Daberon, one could assume that the child would most likely "pass" the ESI as well. Based on the results of this study, one can make this assumption with a reasonable amount of confidence. The subjects in this study included 16 males and 16 females. All were preschool students, ranging in age from 4-6 to 5-6 with a mean age of 5-1 years. The subjects were given the two tests in a counterbalanced order, which also varied as to sex so that not all of one sex received one test first. The standard scores and whether or not each subject "passed" or "failed" each screen was determined. The correlation between the two tests was also determined. The Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was used to determine the degree of relatedness between the tests. A high positive correlation of .73 was found between the Daberon and the ESI, with a shared variance

Federal and state laws have mandated preschool educational screenings. However, these laws only specify that a screening measure must be incorporated in the school's procedures. The laws do not state what this screening measure should be or how it should be used. For example, Public Law 94-142 established that a school should focus on early identification and intervention of children with special needs, but did not specify how to identify these students. As a result, reliable, valid screening measures are needed. A review of the current literature indicates that there are numerous screening measures available, but there is conflicting evidence regarding how these measures should be used and their predictive validity. The purpose of this current study is to evaluate the ability of a school corporation's local kindergarten screening measure, known as SEEK, to predict school achievement by the end of third grade, and special education placement, Title I support services, and gifted services by the end of fifth grade for both Amish and English speaking students. School achievement was measured by the student's performance on the third grade ISTEP. Archival educational data was collected for 333 children who participated in SEEK in 1997 and 1998, and then later took the third grade ISTEP. Results of the multiple regression analyses revealed that the overall composite score of the SEEK significantly predicted third grade ISTEP scores, special education placement, Title I support services, and gifted support services for both Amish and English students. However, the significance of the different components of SEEK to predict ISTEP scores varied depending on the area of ISTEP measured. In addition, the sensory and the behavior components did not significantly predict variation on ISTEP scores for either.language or math. Overall, these findings help validate the predictive validity of using the overall SEEK score and the usefulness of kindergarten screening. In addition, this study has implications in developing preventative approaches to benefit students who may be likely to experience learning difficulties at school. A discussion of the limitations as well as the usefulness of this study is presented along with directions for future kindergarten screening research. / Department of Educational Psychology

The purpose of the study was to investigate the construct validity of the Total Individual Progress Level I Pre-kindergarten Screen (TIP) for males and females. Exploratory factor analysis of the items was used to determine the underlying dimensions of TIP.The subjects were 799 students from a rural and suburban school district adjacent to a larger city in east-central Indiana who were screened prior to kindergarten entrance during the years 1977 to 1984. The sample was split to allow for cross-validation of the exploratory factor analysis results.The covariance structures of males and females were judged to be similar. Therefore, a principal components analysis using SPSS-X (Nie, 1983) was used to determine the optional number of factors to retain for males and females together in two separate samples. Judgements regarding the number of factors to retain was based on the scree plot and eigenvalue greater than one criteria (Reynolds & Paget, 1981). Both orthogonal and oblique rotations were explored for 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-factor solutions using principal factoring with iterations.The four-factor varimax solutions for Sample 1 and Sample 2 were found to provide the best solution of TIP. The same four constructs were found in both samples and were extracted in the same order, indicating reliability of this factor solution of TIP. The factors were named, in order, Language, Visual, Gross Motor, and Speech Mechanics.The results obtained in the two samples were compared in regard to Rummel's (1970) considerations. Similarities were found in number of retained factors, configuration of the variables, complexity of the solution, variance accounted for by the factors, and communalities. In addition, results of Tucker's congruence coefficient and Cattell's salient variable similarity index indicated factorial similarity for all four factors across both samples.The four derived factors did not completely resemble the four pre-established subscales of TIP.The Concepts subscale did not emerge as a separate construct and the Hearing and communication subscale was broken into two different factors. Fewer items comprised the four-factor varimax solution. Only two of the extracted factors, Gross Motor and Visual, resembled the pre-established subscales of Motor and Vision and Visual, respectively.