Keywords
Prekindergarten teacher preparation, florida voluntary prekindergarten program, readiness rates, preschool teacher credentials, preschool teacher education level, universal prekindergarten
Abstract
This study addressed the problem of insufficient information concerning the impact of variability in requirements and credentials for Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) teachers statewide on VPK program quality. This study examined the variance in the professional credentials of VPK lead instructors in Florida school districts and whether or not this variability makes a significant difference in program quality as measured by VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rates. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) statistical tests were conducted, as appropriate, for each of four research questions. Research findings indicated there was no statistically significant difference in the mean VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rates based on the professional credentials for VPK lead instructors when controlling for the socio-economic status of the children enrolled at each site. Recommendations were made for future research to replicate the study using a different indicator of program quality, perhaps a measure of student progress throughout the school year. Also, the first groups of students to participate in Florida’s voluntary prekindergarten (VPK) program are now enrolled in upper elementary grades making a longitudinal study both feasible and worthwhile in evaluating the effectiveness of a largescale preschool program. The researcher further recommended that the idea of improving the qualifications of the prekindergarten workforce must persist, supported by continued research and adequate funding.
Notes
If this is your thesis or dissertation, and want to learn how to access it or for more information about readership statistics, contact us at STARS@ucf.edu
Graduation Date
2012
Semester
Fall
Advisor
Murray, Barbara A.
Degree
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
College
College of Education and Human Performance
Department
Teaching, Learning, and Leadership
Degree Program
Educational Leadership; Previous Leadership Certificate
Format
application/pdf
Identifier
CFE0004619
URL
http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0004619
Language
English
Release Date
December 2012
Length of Campus-only Access
None
Access Status
Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)
Subjects
Dissertations, Academic -- Education, Education -- Dissertations, Academic
STARS Citation
Wright, Teresa, "Impact Of The Education Level Of Voluntary Prekindergarten Teachers Upon Kindergarten Student Readiness Rates" (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2433.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/2433