Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) partnered with the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) and Marshall University to conduct a five-year study of the quality of the West Virginia Universal Pre-K (WV Pre-K) program. The study was designed to examine the effectiveness of the WV pre-k program, understand the extent to which initial benefits result in persistent education advantages, and assess the quality of educational experiences of children through grade three. The study included seven counties where there were lower pre-k participation rates for comparison group access. This study synopsis was compiled by WVDE staff based on the preliminary report provided by NIEER.