This chapter provides an overview of the methods and data analytic strategies of the Early Childhood Project, the longitudinal research project described in this book, and to provide background information about Baltimore that situates the study in context. We begin with a historical and sociological account of the people of Baltimore. We then describe the rationale of our sampling strategy and present a detailed description of our sample. The chapter also presents the methods of inquiry and analysis of the Early Childhood Project. We describe our approach to developing measures of competency in various aspects of literacy, indices of the ecocultural contexts of the children's homes, and interpretive accounts of social interactive processes. We describe the data analytic procedures, and explain how and why we mix qualitative and quantitative methods. The chapter closes with a summary of the literacy achievement of the children at the end of the Early Childhood Project in relation to city, state, and national achievement norms for third graders.

THE CITY OF BALTIMORE

Baltimore is Maryland's largest city, covering a land area of 81 square miles (209 square km), and its main economic hub. Baltimore is an inland port and major Atlantic seaboard city located on the upper reaches of Chesapeake Bay. The city was the site of the country's first important railroad terminal and was a leading manufacturing center, known in particular for shipbuilding and airplane production.