Talk Out of School

A Conversation with Dr. Dale Farran on the impact of Pre-K programs

Episode Summary

After a recap of NYC education news, Leonie spoke to Dr. Dale Farran, the co-author of a new longitudinal study showing the negative impact of PreK programs on achievement and behavior. NYC has spent many billions of dollars expanding preK and 3K, and plans to spend more than $1.5B in temporary federal funds on this program over the next three years. They discussed how PreKindergarten programs should be redesigned if they are to provide long-term benefits to children.

Episode Notes

NYC Public School Parents, Why is NYC refusing to report vax rates in schools as required by law, & doing little to increase those numbers?
https://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2022/02/why-is-nyc-refusing-to-report-vax-rates.html

Chalkbeat, As NY mulls end to school mask mandate, how many students are vaccinated?
https://ny.chalkbeat.org/2022/2/16/22938022/nyc-student-vaccination-rates-mask-mandate

NYC Public School Parents, DOE absurdly claims that their refusal to report on vaccination rates is due to privacy concerns
https://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2022/02/doe-absurdly-claims-that-their-refusal.html

NY Post, Eric Adams expected to tap charter school backer for citywide education panel
https://nypost.com/2022/02/14/eric-adams-expected-to-tap-charter-school-backer-for-citywide-panel

NYC Public school parents, Education advocates and parents speak out against appointment of Joe Belluck to the Panel for Educational Policy
https://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2022/02/education-advocates-and-parents-speak.html

Gothamist, Adams' proposed cuts to NYC schools come at "worst possible time," critics say
https://gothamist.com/news/adams-proposed-cuts-nyc-schools-come-worst-possible-time-critics-say

NPR,  A top researcher says it's time to rethink our entire approach to preschool
https://www.npr.org/2022/02/10/1079406041/researcher-says-rethink-prek-preschool-prekindergarten

Developmental Psychology, Effects of a statewide pre-kindergarten program on children’s achievement and behavior through sixth grade.
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2022-18712-001

Gotham Gazette, The Sizable Downside of De Blasio’s Education Record
https://www.gothamgazette.com/opinion/130-opinion/11020-downside-de-blasio-education-record

Class Size Matters, The Impact of PreK on School Overcrowding in NYC: Lack of Planning, Lack of Space
https://classsizematters.org/the-impact-of-prek-on-school-overcrowding-in-nyc-lack-of-planning-lack-of-space