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Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX™
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Early intervention types

Overview

  • Influence: Early intervention types
  • Domain: School
  • Sub-Domain: Pre-school interventions
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Likely to have positive impact
  • Influence Definition: These programs include early interventions in the home with families

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 9
  • Number of studies: 356
  • Number of students: 38,582
  • Number of effects: 1,282
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.27
  • Robustness index: 4

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Conference paper Applegate A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Day Care on Development: Preliminary Findings 1986 Day care 13 492 114 0.42
Review of Educational Research Bakermans-Kranenburg, van IJzendoorn & Bradley Those who have, receive: The Matthew effect in early childhood intervention in the home environment 2005 Early intervention in the home 48 7,350 56 0.20
School Psychology International Lewis & Vosburgh Effectiveness of kindergarten intervention programs: a meta-analysis 1988 Kindergarten based 65 3,194 444 0.43
Child study Journal Fusaro The Effect of Full-Day Kindergarten on Student Achievement: A Meta-Analysis 1997 Full vs. half day kindergarten 23 NA 23 0.18
Report Violato & Russell A meta-analysis of published research on the psychological effects of nonmaternal care on child development: Social policy implications. 2000 Home care vs full time day care 40 23,986 40 0.14
Dissertation Jones The effect of all-day kindergarten on student cognitive growth: a meta-analysis 2002 All day Kindergarten 22 NA 22 0.56
Book Timmerman Family Care Versus Day Care: Effects on Children 2006 Family vs. Day care 24 3,560 23 0.05
Review of Educational Research Cooper, Allen, Patall & Dent Effects of Full-Day Kindergarten on Academic Achievement and Social Development 2010 Full day kindergarten 40 NA 254 0.24
Teachers College Record Camilli, Vargas, Ryan, & Barnett Meta-analysis of the effects of early education interventions on cognitive and social development 2010 Kindergarten vs. Not kindergarten on school achievement 81 NA 306 0.23
TOTAL/AVERAGE 356 38,582 1,282 0.27
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