Evaluation of the federal program „Sprach-Kitas“ (engl. „Language-Daycare“)

In January 2016, the German Federal Ministry for Families, Seniors, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) launched the federal program “Sprach-Kitas: Weil Sprache der Schlüssel der Welt ist” (English: “Language-Daycare: Because language is the key to the world”). From 2016 to 2020, the BMFSFJ utilized this federal program to assist about 6000 German daycare centers in their task of supporting the language development of children from non-German as well as educationally disadvantaged families. In doing so, a special focus was on the realization of inclusive pedagogics as well as on the cooperation with families. In the course of the program execution, additional expert consultants and supplementary employees were implemented to offer the daycare centers continuous support. For detailed information about the federal program please click here.

In the current extension phase 2021/2022, not only the proven structure of the federal program is maintained, but also the challenges and chances of digitalized pedagogical activities are taken up. This new focus on digitalization refers, on one hand, to monitoring the digital transformation within the three fields of action (everyday language education, inclusive pedagogics, cooperation with families) on the levels of children and families. On the other hand, it refers to utilizing digitalization in terms of communication and professionalization on the level of the employees.

The scientific evaluation of the federal program is conducted by the Chair of Early Childhood Education of the Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg in cooperation with the Department of Early Childhood Education of the Freie Universität Berlin. In the evaluation, the implementation and the effects of the program are investigated on the levels of expert consultants, facilities, employees, and families. The empiric evaluation has a longitudinal design that contains quantitative and qualitative elements.

Who will be involved in the study?

In the extension phase of the evaluation, 100 expert consultants and their Sprach-Kita unions (in total about 1000 daycare centers) as well as 77 facility sponsors will be involved. For the family surveys, a new sample of 1000 families will be drawn; for in-depth analyses, a subsample of 200 families/children will be set as a target. On the level of the daycare centers, another subsample of 400 employees will be drawn to conduct a diary study that examines the digital media use in the pedagogical practice. By the end of the program period, a new level of investigation will be explored: In an additional survey, federal representatives will be asked to reflect in retrospect on their role and perception regarding the federal program.

Who are we?

The institutions that cooperate in the conduction of the evaluation study are a union of the Chair of Early Childhood Education of the Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg and the Department of Early Childhood Education of the Freie Universität Berlin.

Project lead:

Prof. Dr. Yvonne Anders

Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg

Lehrstuhl für Frühkindliche Bildung und Erziehung

96045 Bamberg

yvonne.anders(at)uni-bamberg.de

Further Information about this person

Prof. Dr. Katharina Kluczniok

Freie Universität Berlin

Arbeitsbereich Frühkindliche Bildung und Erziehung

Habelschwerdter Allee 45

14195 Berlin