Why Oklahoma?
         According to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), Oklahoma is the nation's leader in providing access to pre-K to four-year-olds. It is one of a handful of states that makes pre-K available, on a voluntary basis, to all four-year-olds, irrespective of income. Approximately eighty percent of all Oklahoma four-year-olds now participate in the state-funded pre-K program or Head Start.
         In 2001 Georgetown University researchers decided to focus on Oklahoma's pre-K program because no one was evaluating it and because it had several characteristics of a high-quality program. For example, all lead teachers in state-funded pre-K classrooms must have a B.A. degree and must be early childhood certified. Also, they are paid a regular public school wage.
         Georgetown University researchers have now analyzed Tulsa test data from August 2001, August 2004, and August 2006.

APPAM (Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management)

Child and Family Policy Consortium

Careers in Child and Family Policy

COGDOP (Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology)

Foundation for Child Development

Georgetown Public Policy Institute

Georgetown University Department of Psychology

CAP Head Start of Tulsa

Oklahoma State Department of Education

Tulsa Public Schools

The David & Lucile Packard Foundation

The Spencer Foundation

The A. L. Mailman Family Foundation

The Pew Charitable Trusts

The National Institute for Early Education Research