Scaling high quality: An implementation study of Boston’s Universal Pre-K expansion to community-based programs

Domain-specific, evidence-based curricula and job-embedded coaching have been called a “best bet” for improving instructional quality in public prekindergarten programs. However, implementation science studies that offer lessons for scaling this approach, including identifying potential stumbling blocks and how to address new demands on teachers’ working conditions, are relatively scarce. We addressed this gap in the literature via a mixed-methods descriptive study of the first three years of Boston’s Universal Pre-K (UPK) expansion into classrooms in community-based organizations (CBOs; from 2019 to 2022). Teachers in 28 classrooms in 22 CBOs were trained to implement evidence-based language, literacy, and math-focused curricula and received a comprehensive set of professional development supports including job-embedded coaching. We leveraged classroom observations, teacher surveys, teacher interviews, and coach interviews to describe implementation levels, barriers, and facilitators. Findings show teachers were generally positive about the supports they received and implemented the curriculum with fidelity. However, some dimensions of instructional quality declined in year 3. We identified four specific barriers (fitting all components in, inconsistent teacher planning time, teacher dispositions toward math, and COVID-19 disruptions) and two facilitators (strong professional development and strong teacher-coach relationships) that offer actionable lessons for Boston and beyond.