More children spend time in preschool now than a decade ago, but not all of them get educational programs of the same quality. Putting new, supplementary curricula in place at multiple schools poses a special challenge to preschool administrators, and this brief, based on 15 years of MDRC research, summarizes principles for making effective curricular changes to bolster classroom quality, instructional practices, and children’s skills.

The lessons focus on three elements: a well-articulated, supplemental classroom curriculum focused on instruction in a specific domain; robust professional development, including ongoing teacher training led by certified trainers and in-classroom coaching to support teachers; and real-time data monitoring with data-driven technical assistance and decision-making to support teachers.