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Using a Cluster Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of the Early Learning Matters (ELM) Curriculum

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Title: Using a Cluster Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of the Early Learning Matters (ELM) Curriculum
Language: English
Authors: Sara A. Schmitt, Robert J. Duncan, Gary Bingham, Hope Gerde, David J. Purpura, Courtenay Barrett, Chanele Robinson-Rucker, Elizabeth Schlesinger-Devlin, Jessica Logan, Megan Purcell, Emily Mitzel, Tracy Zehner
Source: Grantee Submission. 2026.
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 55
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R305A240113
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Preschool Education
Descriptors: School Readiness, Preschool Curriculum, Preschool Children, Instructional Effectiveness, Randomized Controlled Trials, Hierarchical Linear Modeling
Geographic Terms: Oregon, Texas, Georgia
Abstract: The aim of the current study is to test the efficacy of the Early Learning Matters (ELM) curriculum for promoting school readiness for children across three geographic regions. A two-cohort Cluster Randomized Trial will be used to address our primary research aims, where preschool centers will be the unit of random assignment (N = 44 centers, 132 classrooms). Random assignment will occur within blocks that are stratified by 1) site, 2) type of center (Head Start [HS] or non-HS), 2), and 3) center size to either the ELM (n=23 centers, ~69 classrooms) or a business-as-usual control group (n=21 centers, ~63 classrooms). Children will be assessed in the fall and spring on school readiness skills. We will use three-level multilevel regression models with children nested within classrooms/teachers, which are nested within centers, controlling for a host of child and family characteristics. Fidelity of implementation data will be collected and reported. [This paper is accepted for publication in the "Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness."]
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2026
Access URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/uree20
Accession Number: ED681098
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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PubType: Report
PubTypeId: report
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  Data: Using a Cluster Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of the Early Learning Matters (ELM) Curriculum
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sara+A%2E+Schmitt%22">Sara A. Schmitt</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Robert+J%2E+Duncan%22">Robert J. Duncan</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gary+Bingham%22">Gary Bingham</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hope+Gerde%22">Hope Gerde</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22David+J%2E+Purpura%22">David J. Purpura</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Courtenay+Barrett%22">Courtenay Barrett</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chanele+Robinson-Rucker%22">Chanele Robinson-Rucker</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elizabeth+Schlesinger-Devlin%22">Elizabeth Schlesinger-Devlin</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jessica+Logan%22">Jessica Logan</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Megan+Purcell%22">Megan Purcell</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Emily+Mitzel%22">Emily Mitzel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tracy+Zehner%22">Tracy Zehner</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Grantee+Submission%22"><i>Grantee Submission</i></searchLink>. 2026.
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 55
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
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  Data: R305A240113
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  Data: Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink>
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  Label: Descriptors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Readiness%22">School Readiness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Curriculum%22">Preschool Curriculum</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Children%22">Preschool Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Effectiveness%22">Instructional Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Randomized+Controlled+Trials%22">Randomized Controlled Trials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hierarchical+Linear+Modeling%22">Hierarchical Linear Modeling</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Oregon%22">Oregon</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Texas%22">Texas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Georgia%22">Georgia</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The aim of the current study is to test the efficacy of the Early Learning Matters (ELM) curriculum for promoting school readiness for children across three geographic regions. A two-cohort Cluster Randomized Trial will be used to address our primary research aims, where preschool centers will be the unit of random assignment (N = 44 centers, 132 classrooms). Random assignment will occur within blocks that are stratified by 1) site, 2) type of center (Head Start [HS] or non-HS), 2), and 3) center size to either the ELM (n=23 centers, ~69 classrooms) or a business-as-usual control group (n=21 centers, ~63 classrooms). Children will be assessed in the fall and spring on school readiness skills. We will use three-level multilevel regression models with children nested within classrooms/teachers, which are nested within centers, controlling for a host of child and family characteristics. Fidelity of implementation data will be collected and reported. [This paper is accepted for publication in the "Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness."]
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: Yes
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: <link linkTarget="URL" linkTerm="https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/uree20" linkWindow="_blank">https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/uree20</link>
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  Label: Accession Number
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  Data: ED681098
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED681098
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      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 55
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: School Readiness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Curriculum
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Children
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      – SubjectFull: Instructional Effectiveness
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      – SubjectFull: Hierarchical Linear Modeling
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      – SubjectFull: Oregon
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      – SubjectFull: Texas
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      – SubjectFull: Georgia
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      – TitleFull: Using a Cluster Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of the Early Learning Matters (ELM) Curriculum
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