%0 Journal Article
%T Impact of a Parent Text Messaging Program on Pre
%A Jamie DeCoster
%A Sonia Q. Cabell
%A Stefanie B. Copp
%A Susan Landry
%A Tricia A. Zucker
%J AERA Open
%@ 2332-8584
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/2332858419833339
%X There is increasing interest in low-cost, scalable approaches that support parent engagement in their children¡¯s learning at home. This study examined the impact of one such approach on pre-kindergarteners¡¯ literacy development during an academic year in a suburban public school setting that prioritized enrollment for children living in poverty. Parents were randomly assigned within children¡¯s classrooms to receive either: (a) a language and literacy text messaging program or (b) a health and well-being text messaging program. Unexpectedly, findings indicated that children entering the school year with higher skill levels benefited from the language/literacy program while those with lower initial skill levels benefited from the health/well-being program. Although this approach shows promise in impacting some children¡¯s literacy skills, it is clear that ¡°one size¡± does not fit all families and that some families may benefit from text messages on basic needs such as sleep, nutrition, health, and behavior
%K preschool
%K pre-kindergarten
%K literacy
%K text messaging
%K scalable approaches
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2332858419833339