In the last 40 years, there has been a significant rise in the number of preschool students in the United States. However, despite this increase, millions of children need help with the academic demands when starting elementary school.
The Department of Education in Alaska conducted a pilot project to assess the effectiveness of Feuerstein’s Early Childhood Curriculum. The project involved 200 preschool and kindergarten children from 7 diverse communities, ranging from the capital to rural areas. The program’s intensity, data collectors, and children’s ages varied by region. However, all participants observed significant improvements in cognitive development.
One community, where 80% of children routinely score below grade level on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary (PPVT-III), demonstrated tremendous growth. Upon post-testing following FIE Basic intervention, 90% of the children met or performed above their grade level, as opposed to just 40% of their peers who received no Feuerstein intervention. Moreover, the children who received the Feuerstein curriculum in preschool continued to achieve in their studies through the fourth grade and beyond.
Researcher: Dr. Meir Ben Hur