K-Readiness Personnel

The K-Readiness Pilot is being conducted by a multidisciplinary team from the University of Kentucky. The team brings expertise in early care and education, program evaluation, public policy, economics, quantitative research methods, and data analysis.

Principal Investigator

Dr. Shepley serves as the Principal Investigator for the pilot evaluation. His work focuses on early childhood education, evidence-based practices, teacher and caregiver professional development, and improving outcomes for young children and families. Dr. Shepley oversees the design and implementation of the evaluation and works closely with project partners, policymakers, and stakeholders to ensure the study is conducted in a scientifically rigorous and transparent manner.

Evaluation and Research Partner

The University of Kentucky Evaluation Center provides expertise in program evaluation, data collection, data management, analysis, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. The Evaluation Center supports the implementation of the study and helps ensure that findings are communicated clearly and accurately to policymakers, participating organizations, and the public. The Evaluation Center will also be overseeing the formation and duties of the workgroups associated with the pilot.

Project Manager

Dr. Keene serves as the Project Manager for the pilot evaluation. She coordinates day-to-day project operations, study implementation activities, participant engagement, communication efforts, and collaboration among the research team. She helps ensure the project remains on schedule and that participating providers and families receive timely information and support.

Methodology Specialist

Dr. Darolia serves as the evaluation's Methodology Specialist. He provides expertise in research design and causal inferencing methods. Dr. Darolia supports the development and implementation of the study's randomized controlled trial, helping to ensure that findings regarding the effectiveness of the financial incentive model are scientifically rigorous, valid, and policy-relevant.

Cost-Effectiveness Specialist

Dr. Kho serves as the evaluation's Cost-Effectiveness Specialist. Drawing on his experience evaluating large-scale early childhood initiatives, including work related to the Pyramid Model, he leads efforts to assess the costs, benefits, and potential return on investment associated with the kindergarten readiness incentive approach. His work will help policymakers understand not only whether the pilot improves outcomes, but also whether the approach represents an efficient use of public resources and could be feasible to implement at scale across the Commonwealth.

The evaluation team is committed to conducting this study with the highest standards of scientific rigor, transparency, and ethical research practices. The evaluation is designed to provide policymakers, child care providers, families, and the public with reliable evidence regarding the effectiveness and costs of Kentucky's Kindergarten Readiness Performance-Based Child Care Incentive Pilot Program.