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What is the HighScope Educational Research Foundation?
HighScope’s Educational Research Foundation is an independent non-profit organization headquartered in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The Foundation encourages the development of quality programs for children and youth worldwide and supports teachers and parents as they help children learn. HighScope develops programs that look at child development, train teachers, do research, and support programs and policies that help children and youth. They also publish educational books, DVDs, and other materials.
How Old is HighScope?
HighScope began in 1970 to complete the work of Dr. David P. Weikart, which began in the Ypsilanti Public Schools in 1962 with the study called The Perry Preschool Project. This study proved to lawmakers that quality preschool experiences made a positive difference to children all the way into adulthood. The Foundation has had a positive result on public policy and the ongoing national Head Start program. The Foundation’s early childhood program, called The HighScope Curriculum or HighScope Approach is one of the best-known and most widely used educational methods.
How does HighScope Look at Education?
The HighScope approach is flexible and is inclusive of the different cultural, ethnic, language traditions and special needs in our communities. HighScope is built on active, participatory learning. That is the belief that children learn best through touch, smell, sight, taste and hearing. When children have opportunities for experience along with adult support, the learning is truly meaningful.
In the HighScope program children learn through working with real objects and toys and using art supplies and items found around the house. Children make discoveries and learn new concepts while working with materials that interest them. This allows children to take an active part in their learning, construct knowledge and to make decisions. In HighScope, we call play the children’s work.
How Does HighScope Train people to use their Program?
The Foundation holds training at the Foundation headquarters and at individual program locations in every state and in more than 20 foreign countries. People and/or agencies who successfully complete the training can receive certifications. HighScope also trains people within communities to become trainers so they can train others in their communities to use the HighScope program. ACHR has two of these trainers on our staff. They train the teachers and home visitors to use HighScope in our Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms and share with families in the home.
Does HighScope work?
National research shows children attending quality, child-development based preschool and childcare programs such as HighScope score higher on developmental measures than children not in a HighScope program.
Using HighScope, we find our typically developing children at Head Start meet or exceed our school readiness goals. This includes goals for older toddlers, 3 year olds, and 4-5 year olds going on to kindergarten.
How can I learn more about HighScope?
Read this series of newsletters given to you. Ask your child’s teacher or a Center Educator for more information. The HighScope web site is www.highscope.org or you can e-mail your questions to info@highscope.org.