Among CARS-matched pairs, children placed in inclusive kindergartens significantly outperformed peers in segregated settings on achievement, language, cognition, adaptive behavior, autism symptoms, and prosocial skills four years later¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (3 entries) · associational r1–r2 · q2 · i2 medium
Currency · newest study 2017 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i2 For 25 CARS-matched pairs, all four outcome measures showed large significant differences favoring included children: Kaufman d = .72, TOLD d = .66, Leiter d = .71, Vineland d = .81. → Strain 2017 q2 i2 CARS scores at 4 years post differed significantly in favor of the included pair member, d = .68. → Strain 2017 (2) q2 i2 SSRS prosocial raw scores differed significantly (43.4 vs 24.5) in favor of included children, d = .48. → Strain 2017 (3)

Evidence¶

Strain 2017¶

Phillip S. Strain. (2017). Four-Year Follow-Up of Children in the LEAP Randomized Trial: Some Planned and Accidental Findings. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 37(2), 121–126. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271121417711531

q2 · i2 · associational · r1

A post hoc matched-pairs analysis identified 25 pairs of children with preschool CARS scores within 3 points, one placed in 80%+ inclusive kindergarten and one in a less inclusive option. All four measures showed "large differences that were statistically significant at p < .01" with effect sizes including TOLD d = .66 and Vineland d = .81.

"For each measure in Figure 3, large differences that were statistically significant at p < .01 using two-tailed t tests were observed: Kaufman, t(20) = 2.92; TOLD, t(20) = 2.96; Leiter, t(20) = 3.11; Vineland t(20) = 2.99. The effect sizes for these findings were Kaufman d = .72, TOLD d = .66, Leiter d = .71, and Vineland d = .81."

Strain 2017 (2)¶

Phillip S. Strain. (2017). Four-Year Follow-Up of Children in the LEAP Randomized Trial: Some Planned and Accidental Findings. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 37(2), 121–126. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271121417711531

q2 · i2 · associational · r2

For the same 25 matched pairs, autism symptom severity (CARS) at 4 years post was compared between included and segregated pair members; the difference was "significantly different in favor of the included member" with d = .68.

"The mean CARS score difference post 4 years was significantly different in favor of the included member of the pairs, two-tailed t(20) = 2.99, p < .01. The effect size for this finding was .68."

Strain 2017 (3)¶

Phillip S. Strain. (2017). Four-Year Follow-Up of Children in the LEAP Randomized Trial: Some Planned and Accidental Findings. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 37(2), 121–126. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271121417711531

q2 · i2 · associational · r1

SSRS prosocial raw subscale scores at 4 years post for the matched pairs showed 43.4 for included children versus 24.5 for segregated peers, "significant, t(20) = 3.44, p < .05" with d = .48.

"The 43.4 versus 24.5 difference in favor of included children was significant, t(20) = 3.44, p < .05. The effect size for this finding was .48."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Learning Disabilities and Developmental Differences — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• Data collectors reported that segregated settings differed from inclusive settings in curriculum challenge, paraeducator support style, and academic feedback/expectations — related
• Classroom placement was absolutely stable across kindergarten through third grade, with no children moving into or out of inclusive settings — related
• Initial kindergarten placement was driven by district-level policy rather than children's developmental level, with no correspondence between preschool outcome quartile and placement — related
• Four years after the LEAP trial, LEAP graduates scored higher than comparison children on all measures, but only cognitive (Leiter) and teacher-rated prosocial skills differences were statistically significant — related