SPARK Evaluation Results

SPARK gives children the advantage they need to succeed in school.

Evaluation is a crucial part of SPARK, and SPARK’s evaluation results clearly show the program’s effectiveness. An independent evaluation team from Kent State University analyzes SPARK‘s effectiveness using a rigorous research design. Year after year, the evaluation results show that participating in SPARK gives Ohio’s children the edge that leads to success, both in school and in life.

While children are participating in SPARK, the Get Ready To Read (GRTR) and Preschool Early Numeracy (PENS) Assessments help gauge the progress they make.

 

When school starts, the school administers the state-mandated Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) to incoming kindergarteners. It measures a child’s school readiness in social, physical, and academic areas. SPARK children significantly outperform their non-SPARK peers in the same classrooms. More information on the KRA is here. 

 

Because of the SPARK advantage, children start school more ready to succeed!

Administrators love SPARK, because they see how well it works once children get to school. 

"Having experienced the powerful benefits of SPARK from many perspectives, as a parent, an elementary principal, and now as district superintendent, I can attest to the outstanding impact on early childhood literacy. The School-Family-SPARK partnership has stood the test of time as a proven foundation for kindergarten readiness and the development of  literacy skills in our early learners."