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A classroom randomized efficacy trial conducted over four years in 7 community-based preschool and 6 Head Start programs investigated effects of the Second Step Early Learning (SSEL) curriculum on end of preschool executive functioning (EF) and social-emotional (SE) skills in low-income children. Outcomes are reported for n=770 four-year-olds independently assessed for EF and SE by study staff in fall and spring of the prekindergarten year. Main outcomes were analyzed using two, three- level hierarchical linear models, one each for EF and SE skills. A significant effect (effect size of 0.15) for EF and a nonsignificant effect for SE were found. Secondary analyses found no significant differences on pre-academic skills. SSEL appears to have a meaningful impact on at-risk children's EF skills that supports its continued dissemination.

A classroom randomized trial (n = 31 classrooms) was conducted using the Second Step Early Learning (SSEL) curriculum compared to usual curricula. Head Start and community preschool classrooms enrolling low income children were randomly assigned to deliver SSEL (n = 16) or usual curricula (n = 15). Data are reported for four year olds independently assessed for executive functioning (EF) and social-emotional skills (SE) in fall and spring of the preschool year. Analyses used three level Hierarchical Linear Modeling, including two EF tasks or two SE tasks as level 1, child as level 2, and classroom as level 3. Controlling for baseline EF, SE, cognitive ability, parent income, child sex, age, and ethnicity, children receiving the SSEL curriculum had significantly better end of preschool EF skills and marginally significantly better end of preschool SE skills. The curriculum is thus promising in its potential to improve at-risk preschool children's EF and SE.

Background: To address the need for interventions for families with parents with mental illness, the evidence-based intervention Let's Talk about Children (LTC) was adapted in the context of adult mental health services in the United States and reframed as the ParentingWell Practice Approach. This study focuses on the early implementation phase of the adapted practice in Massachusetts. Methods: As part of the adaptation and implementation process, practitioners from provider agencies serving adults with mental illness were invited to participate in the ParentingWell Learning Collaborative (PWLC), which included in-person learning collaborative sessions and follow-up virtual coaching sessions. This paper focuses on data obtained during and in response to the PWLC virtual coaching sessions, from 29 participants. Specific research questions included: (1) What themes emerged in coaching sessions related to practitioners' experiences during the early implementation of the ParentingWell Practice Approach (2) In what ways are coaching sessions helpful to the practitioners as they implement the ParentingWell Practice Approach? Coaching sessions were recorded, and transcribed, and the data were analyzed qualitatively to identify early implementation themes. Practitioners completed feedback surveys online (which included Likert scale items and open-ended questions) following virtual coaching sessions to evaluate the usefulness of coaching sessions. Results: Coaching sessions reflected the following themes related to practitioners' experiences during the early implementation of ParentingWell: (1) practitioners identify and share concrete approaches to supporting parents; (2) practitioners reflect on parents' needs related to support, advocacy, problemsolving, and parenting skills; (3) practitioners reflect on their own personal experiences; and (4) practitioners' recognize the importance of self-care strategies for themselves and for parents served. Practitioners indicated that coaching sessions were useful in supporting the implementation of a new practice. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary evidence for the benefits of coaching in the implementation of ParentingWell. Future research will explore the impact of ParentingWell on outcomes for parents and families served. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parent-teacher rating discrepancies in rating of children's social skills were examined in a low-income, ethnically diverse preschool sample, using the Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales [Gresham, F. J. & Elliott, S. N. (2008). "Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales." Minneapolis, MN: Pearson Assessments]. Participants included 663 preschool children (326 male, 336 female, M = 3.51 years, SD = 0.50) rated in the Fall of their preschool year. Children were drawn from 68 classrooms in 13 preschool sites. The results indicated that mean parent ratings were significantly greater than mean teacher ratings for the Social Skills Scale. The mean parent-teacher ratings were not significantly different for the Problem Behaviours Scale. Follow-up analyses indicated that the parent-teacher ratings differed across six of the seven Social Skills subscales. These differences were significantly associated with family income. Implications for parents, teachers, and educational policy are explored. [At time of submission to ERIC this article was in press with "Early Child Development and Care."]

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review (SR) of 550 studies produced between 1970 and 2008 that focus on programs and/or services provided by state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies believed to impact client and/or program outcomes. Method: Authors used a 5-step SR protocol to evaluate and summarize study content and outcomes, study design, and data collection methods. Results: Results indicate that the VR research base is highly varied in terms of the research focus with respect to programs and services, populations, and outcomes and that it spans across a wide range of research designs and data collection methods. Conclusions: The majority of the studies included in this review relied on administrative data, particularly Rehabilitation Services Administration data, and surveys. Only a small number of studies employed some type of experimental design, suggesting a lack of application of this type of research design. Implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.

The role of early childhood mastery motivation as a predictor of executive function 20 years later was examined in a sample of 39 individuals who had early diagnosed developmental disabilities. Multilevel modeling was used to analyze predictors of accuracy and response time on a Flanker task measuring executive function. As predicted, participants had relatively poorer performance on trials requiring inhibition and rule switches. Individuals with Down syndrome, in comparison to other participants, demonstrated longer response times. Young adults who had higher levels of persistence on mastery motivation tasks during early childhood displayed higher levels of accuracy and shorter response times on the executive function task. Possible mechanisms by which early mastery motivation relates to later executive function are discussed.

Parent-teacher rating discrepancies in rating of children's social skills were examined in a low-income, ethnically diverse preschool sample, using the Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales [Gresham, F. M., & Elliott, S. N. (2008). Social Skills Improvement System - Rating Scales. Minneapolis, MN: Pearson Assessments]. Participants included 663 preschool children (326 male, 336 female, M = 3.51 years, SD = 0.50) rated in the Fall of their preschool year. Children were drawn from 68 classrooms in 13 preschool sites. The results indicated that mean parent ratings were significantly greater than mean teacher ratings for the Social Skills Scale. The mean parent-teacher ratings were not significantly different for the Problem Behaviours Scale. Follow-up analyses indicated that parent-teacher ratings differed across six of the seven Social Skills sub-scales. These differences were significantly associated with family income. Implications for parents, teachers, and educational policy are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]