Daisy Quest

Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
  • This strategy can help address educational disparities. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve this outcome are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
  • Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Program overview

  • Interactive, computer-based program intended for children age 3–7
  • Focused on phonological awareness and processing
  • Teaches children to recognize words that rhyme, words with similar sounds, syllables, etc.
  • Instruction is framed in a fairy-tale story line
Issue Areas
Early childhood
Outcomes
Kindergarten readiness
Strategies
Early childhood curricula and interventions
Target Population
Children under 5
Cost per Participant
Approximately $60 per software bundle (2006); $2.99 as an iOS app

Evidence and impacts

Strong

Ranked as having the second-highest level of evidence by the U.S Department of Education What Works Clearinghouse

  • Positive effects on oral language, print knowledge, and phonological processing
  • No discernible effect on cognition and math skills
  • Oral language skills improved by an average of 12 percentile points
  • Print language skills improved by an average of 15 percentile points
  • Phonological processing improved by an average of 12 percentile points

Best practices in implementation

  • Note: This section is under review
  • Curriculum must be delivered with fidelity in order to achieve positive outcomes.
  • Teachers must be provided with ample professional development opportunities to master curriculum and should be evaluated regularly to ensure that model is delivered with fidelity.

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