The Effects of Early Intervention Programs on Kindergarten Readiness for Students with Disabilities

Abstract

Purpose of the quantitative study was to determine effects of early intervention participation on kindergarten readiness focusing on students with disabilities. The study was a quasi-experimental design measuring growth during a six-month timeframe by administering a pre-assessment and post-assessment in a select school district in Upper East Tennessee. The sample population was 113 students four and five-years in age, including 30 students with disabilities. The study suggested participation in early intervention programs had a positive impact on growth scores of participating students for overall general development and five developmental domains. Research did not yield a significant difference in post-assessment scores for overall general development or five developmental domains for students with disabilities based on the number of participating years in early intervention programs.