First 5 LA's Universal Preschool Evaluation Showcased at National Conference

First 5 LA's emerging evaluation approach for its $600 million universal preschool initiative was showcased recently at the American Evaluation Association's annual conference, where 2,000 evaluation practitioners, academics, and students gathered in Portland, Oregon.

The panel discussion on evaluation models for universal preschool was chaired by First 5 LA consultant and director of the National Center for Latino Child and Family Research, Michael López. Also featured were First 5 LA's Katie Fallin, Los Angeles Universal Preschool's Kimberly Hall, and First 5 LA/LAUP Research Advisory Committee member, Gary Henry, a University of North Carolina researcher who headed the evaluation of Georgia's universal preschool program.

"Unlike Georgia's established universal preschool program, First 5 LA and LAUP's approach to make preschool available to every 4-year-old in the county is still being fully developed," said Fallin. "We have many unique evaluation challenges, such as the sheer number of 4-year-olds—150,000. The diversity of our target population is unlike any other universal preschool program in the country," she added.

According to Fallin, First 5 LA has taken the unprecedented step of developing a Preschool Research Advisory Committee, comprised of 20 of the nation's top experts on early childhood development and education research and evaluation.

This group, which meets twice a year, will help ensure that the First 5 LA/LAUP research and evaluation approach incorporates the best practices and latest design innovations gleaned from other efforts.

In addition, First 5 LA is launching a Child Outcome Pilot Study next month that will show how children in LAUP-funded programs are progressing. This study is expected to help identify the most appropriate measures and methodologies for assessing children from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

For information, contact Fallin at kfallin@first5la.org or (213) 482-9489.