Colorado Universal Preschool Students Exhibit Accelerated Developmental Growth, Surpassing Peers by Kindergarten Entry
Denver, CO - A recent collaborative study between the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) and Kidsights Data at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) reveals that children enrolled in Colorado's Universal Preschool program demonstrate accelerated developmental growth, surpassing peers by the time they enter kindergarten.
This partnership marks Colorado as the first state to utilize the Kidsights Measurement Tool—a pioneering, population-based system designed to track core developmental skills in children from birth to age five. The tool, developed by UNMC's College of Public Health, provides comprehensive data on early childhood development, enabling informed decision-making for policymakers and educators.
"Our collaboration with Kidsights Data allows us to gain new insights into the developmental progress of children in our Universal Preschool program," said Lisa Roy, EdD, executive director of CDEC. "These findings will inform our efforts to enhance early childhood education across Colorado, and we are excited to work with Kidsights Data on a second survey to learn more."
The study surveyed 1,407 parents of children who participated in the 2023-2024 Universal Preschool program, with 1,306 completing the Kidsights Measurement Tool. Results indicate that while Colorado Universal Preschool participants initially lagged behind their Nebraska peers at age four, they advanced to be up to nine months ahead by kindergarten entry.
"The data underscores the impact of high-quality preschool programs on children's development," said Abbie Raikes, PhD, associate professor at UNMC's College of Public Health and founder of Kidsights Data. "This collaboration exemplifies how we can learn from data-driven approaches and enhance educational outcomes. We are proud to partner with the State of Colorado on share new insights from the Kidsights Measurement Tool."
The full data brief detailing the study's methodology and findings is available here.
For more information on Kidsights Data, visit here.
UNMC Media Contact:
John Keenan
Email: john.keenan@unmc.edu
Phone: 402-559-8329
Cell: 402-559-4353
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