The Third National Even Start Evaluation: Data that Distort Reality

Date:	Sep 12, 2007
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Topic:	Education
Policy:	Early Childhood Education
Region:	DC

Summary

This document responds, critiques, and evaluates the 2003 Third National Even Start Evaluation, conducted by Abt Associates. The report was commissioned on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education and determined that the Even Start program did not have positive effects on the outcomes of children and parents. The Abt report has been widely cited and has led to the misconception that Even Start is ineffective; however, many organizations, including NCLR, the International Reading Association, the Goodling Institute, the National Center for Family Literacy, and the National Even Start Association, have questioned the report’s validity due to serious design flaws.