PCEP Evaluation Study

The study aims to learn how participation in AVANCE PCEP impacts children’s school readiness. In addition, the study will attempt to measure the program’s effects on parents’ communication, social connections, parent-child interactions, and overall confidence in parenting.

PCEP Evaluation Study

Thank you for your interest in the Parent-Child Education Program (PCEP) and evaluation study. Our AVANCE team is working with Rice University to conduct an evaluation of PCEP.

PCEP is a national model of early childhood education and parenting education. Parents learn to help their children excel during their most critical years of learning through various parenting workshops, creative toy-making sessions, and community resources. The program’s premise is that parents are their children’s first and most important teachers. The program has four components:

Parenting Education: Parents learn about child growth and development. They understand that they are their children’s first and most important teachers and that the home is the first classroom.
Toy Making Class: In this class, parents construct toys for their children that will aid them as they “learn through play.”
Community Resources: The program introduces the parents to community resources. AVANCE schedules representatives from local organizations to conduct one-hour presentations to share information about available resources to parents and families at no cost.
Children’s sessions: AVANCE provides a stimulating and nurturing educational environment for children 0 to 4 years of age while their parents attend the parenting sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of this study?

What are the eligibility requirements?

You are eligible to participate in the PCEP Evaluation Study if you:

Are pregnant or are the parent or legal guardian of a child between 0-4 years of age; and
Your child is not currently enrolled in Pre-K or a Head Start or Early Head Start program; and
You live in Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) ISD (including zip codes 78577, 78589, and 78516) or already belong to the school district

What will happen in this study?

What is the program lottery?

Where will the study take place?

Is there any compensation for participating?

All participants will be compensated monetarily for their time. If a family completes all five evaluation study visits, they will receive a total of $525. The following includes details for compensation at each evaluation study visit:

Visit 1: includes parent and child participation $100
Visit 2: only child participation $150
Visit 3: includes parent and child participation $100
Visit 4: includes parent and child participation $175

What are the benefits of the study?

Are there any risks?

Get Involved!

For more information, call  (956) 475-4136. If you are interested in participating in the PCEP program evaluation, please complete our interest form by following the link below and someone from our team will contact you.

PCEP Study Interest Form