HIPPY is an evidence-based program model with 40 years of research showing positive outcomes for participating families. Studies on the program have been conducted in eight countries as well as across the United States, and has shown HIPPY to be effective in the following:
- Improving child school readiness
- Improving parent involvement
- Academic performance throughout K-12 schooling
- School attendance
- Behavior
- Standardized test scores
In Colorado:
- HIPPY programs have been thoroughly studied in recent years, thanks to generous support from the Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation.
- 3 years of intensive standardized testing showed statistically significant gains in all areas measured for both children and parents.
- External evaluators studied program impacts through 5 separate rigorous research studies that examined:
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- Progression of child learning.
- Parent knowledge
- Kindergarten readiness
- Reading engagement
- Data from the child outcome studies (one of which was an experimental, multiple baseline study) showed significant gains in child learning that were the direct result of HIPPY programming and not due to other factors.
- Data on the parent knowledge study showed that as a direct result of HIPPY, not only were HIPPY parents more knowledgeable of school readiness strategies than non-HIPPY parents, but they also were able to articulate specific activities they employ with their children.
- Data from the kindergarten teacher study showed that HIPPY children are better prepared for learning and better behaved than non-HIPPY children, and that their parents are more engaged in their child’s learning.
- Data on the reading engagement study showed that HIPPY children were more engaged in reading interaction than non-HIPPY children, and they were read to more on a daily basis than non-HIPPY children.