1. $300,000 FOR COGNITIVE SKILLS
WHAT: Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence
(WPPSI - iv)
WHY: With tested validity and reliability across populations for
almost 50 years, WPPSI is one of the most widely used cognitive
functioning measurements for evaluating child development
intervention.
WHAT: Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test – Revised, a norm-
referenced scale that has two parallel versions for pre- and post-
intervention tests.
WHY: PPVT is a widely used measurement of an individual’s
receptive (hearing) vocabulary for ages 2.5 through 40. It provides
a quick estimate of verbal ability or scholastic aptitude. A Spanish
version is available.
$270,000 FOR SOCIO-EMOTIONAL SKILLS
WHAT: Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales (SSIS),
which enables targeted assessment to evaluate social skills,
competing problem behaviors, and academic competence.
WHY: SSIS teacher, parent and student forms to provide a
comprehensive picture across school, home, and community settings.
$150,000 FOR FAMILY
WHAT: Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment,
an evidence-based measure of parental investment and parental
beliefs.
WHY: For over 30 years, HOME has a proven record of evaluating
social, emotional, and cognitive support in the home environment
in early childhood. It has been implemented across racial and
ethnic groups and found to predict school readiness, academic
functioning, and socio-emotional outcomes.
WHAT: Early Intervention Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale, a
task-specific measurement for parenting efficacy designed for
intervention evaluation.
WHY: EIPSES was constructed for the purpose of testing
intervention’s impact on parents’ competence-related beliefs as a
context in which child development can be promoted. It measures
parent outcome expectation and parent competence.
FUNDING FOR
Head Start Impact Evaluation
Ages 3-5

2. $140,000 FOR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT
WHAT: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Center for
Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), two widely used
psychometric tests for measuring the severity of depression.
WHY: Maternal Depression negatively impacts children’s socio-
emotional development and peer skills.
WHAT: Child Cortisol Reactivity, a physiological indicator of
problems with developing cognitive and social competence.
WHY: Chronically elevated levels of cortisol are known to be
associated with physical and mental health problems.
WHAT: Demographic Survey, providing detailed socio-economic
information on family characteristics.
WHY: Essential for randomization and understanding implications
for other Head Start families.
PROJECT PARTNERS
The Center for the Economics of Human Development was founded in 2014
by Nobel Laureate James J. Heckman at the University of Chicago to foster a
comprehensive research program that identifies and explores the circumstanc-
es under which people develop the skills necessary to thrive in the current
economy and achieve their fullest potential. The Center’s research portfolio
is composed of an array of diverse, interrelated projects and initiatives which
promote a thorough empirical understanding of human flourishing.
The mission of the YMCA of Metro Chicago is to develop strong children,
families and communities across Metropolitan Chicago through academic
readiness, character development, violence prevention, fitness and healthy
living. The Y makes accessible the support and opportunities that empower
people and communities to learn, grow and thrive. With a focus on youth
development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y nurtures the poten-
tial of every youth and teen, improves the nation’s health and well-being and
provides opportunities to give back and support neighbors.