R. Savaya et M. Waysman, Outcome evaluation of an advocacy program to promote early childhood education for Israeli Arabs, EVAL REV, 23(3), 1999, pp. 281-303
This article reports the results of an evaluation of the SHATIL early child
hood education (ECE) project, a coalition-based advocacy initiative that ai
med to achieve three main outcomes in Arab towns throughout Israel: growth
in preschool enrollment rates, growth in number of preschool classes admini
stered by local councils, and growth in number of certified preschool teach
ers working in the Arab sector The study employed a quasi-experimental, rep
eated measures design. Outcomes were assessed via collection of archival da
ta pertaining to each of the past 10 years in 45 Arab towns This allowed fo
r comparison of trends over time in the 5 years before project commencement
with those in the 5 years since the project was launched. Findings indicat
ed that the project was successful in recruiting its target population (the
most needy towns) and that the desired changes in fact did occur particula
rly in the target towns. Moreover; the authors were able to conclude, with
a relatively high degree of confidence, that the project played a causal ro
le in achieving these outcomes.