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Head Start
Now almost 40 years-old, Head Start was born during the 1960s' "war on poverty" as an effort to help disadvantaged children prepare for school and to make sure they were receiving the health, dental and social services they needed.
In 1994, Congress added Early Head Start to serve low-income pregnant women and children up to age 3.
Funding and enrollment in the preschool program have steadily increased over time, now reaching more than $6.7 billion and nearly 1 million children. Head Start services are delivered by nonprofit social service agencies throughout the country, as well as school districts, with about 17% of all children in Head Start being served by school districts. But still, only a fraction of the children eligible for the program--less than 25 percent--are able to attend.
Head Start has enjoyed bipartisan support in Congress even though a debate over whether the program really has lasting benefits continues. And in recent years, the program has been caught in a tug of war between those who want to make sure grantees continue to deliver the wide range of social and health services that are part of the program and those who want to strengthen its educational focus in order to give children the academic skills they need for school.
Under the Bush administration, the Head Start Bureau began conducting twice-yearly assessments of individual children with a test called the National Reporting System. Administration officials said the test was needed to more accurately target children's learning needs and to plan technical assistance for individual program sites. However, many early childhood advocates fiercely oppose the assessment, saying that it doesn't measure social and emotional growth, only academic skills.
Another strategy for improving child outcomes has been a gradual increase in educational levels for Head Start teachers. The 1998 reauthorization required that half of all teachers have at least an associate'??s degree. In 2003, Congress sought to continue that effort and move half of all teachers to 4-year-degrees.
During the Clinton and Bush administrations, officials exercised stricter oversight of the financial and management practices of Head Start grantees, which led to some providers losing their grants or having to repay funds for inappropriate expenses.
Another significant shift proposed by President Bush has been to pass control of funding to a number of pilot states in order to coordinate the program with state-funded preschool initiatives. Opponents call this an effort to "dismantle" Head Start.
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Early Ed Watch Blog
The Early Ed Watch Blog provides up-to-the-minute analysis, reporting, and commentary focused on policies that affect children's access to high-quality, aligned PK-3 educational programs for our children from ages 3 through 8.
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National Institute for Early Education Research
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, N.J.
(732) 932-4350
Think tank that collects information andresearch on early-childhood education, making it available to policymakers, journalists, and educators.
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Disparities in Early Learning and Development: Lessons from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort A new Child Trends study commissioned by the Council of Chief State School Officers finds that disparities between poor, at-risk children and more advantaged children are evident as early as nine months of age and grow larger by 24 months of age. June, 2009
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"Better Outcomes for All: Promoting Partnerships Between Head Start and Pre-K" pdf
The report "examines how Head Start and state pre-kindergarten programs can work together to better serve young children and their families."
Pre-K Now and Center for Law and Social Policy - Helene Stebbins and L. Carol Scott, 1/1/2007
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"Head Start's Broken Promise"
Congress should mandate an honest assessment of Head Start's strengths and weaknesses to enable the program to more effectively enhance early childhood education.
American Enterprise Institute - Douglas J. Besharov, 10/25/2005
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The Head Start Debates
by Edward Zigler and Sally J. Styfco, editors, 1/1/2004
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Head Start: Increased Percentage of Teachers Nationwide Have Required Degrees, but Better Information on Classroom Teachers' Qualifications Needed
U.S. General Accounting Office, 1/1/2003
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Making a Difference in the Lives of Infants and Toddlers and Their Families: The Impacts of Early Head Start pdf
Mathematica Policy Research, 1/1/2002
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The Battle Over Head Start: What the Research Shows
National Institute for Early Education Research - W. Steven Barnett, 1/1/2002
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Building Their Futures: How Early Head Start Programs are Enhancing the Lives of Infants and Toddlers in Low-Income Families pdf
Mathematica Policy Research, 1/1/2001
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"Support State Experiments to Improve Head Start"
States that are now leading the charge in preschool education should be given the opportunity to coordinate all state and federal resources, to obtain new resources, and to experiment with new ways to achieve President Lyndon B. Johnson's original vision of poor and minority children entering school ready to compete.
Brookings Institution - Ron Haskins
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It's Time to Stop Head Start
The Cato Institute, 1/1/2000
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"Head Start Impact Study: First Year Findings"
The study quantifies the impact of Head Start separately for 3- and 4-year-old children across child cognitive, social-emotional, and health domains as well as on parenting practices. For children in the 3-year-old group, the preliminary results from the first year of data collection demonstrate small to moderate positive effects favoring the children enrolled in Head Start for some outcomes in each domain. Fewer positive impacts were found for children in the 4-year-old group.
Westat
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Early Head Start comes to Central Florida's youngest citizens
By Kate Santich, Orlando Sentinel
A $6.1 million federal grant is bringing the early intervention program to Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties for the first time, helping nearly 250 children from birth to age 3. Feb. 3, 2010
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Wash. Gov. Gregoire proposes enhanced preschool
By Rachel La Corte, The Associated Press
Gregoire said that under her proposed "All Start" preschool program, certification would ensure that all preschools would operate under the same standards set by the Department of Early Learning. Jan. 18, 2010
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Congress axes money for early reading
By Alyssa Sunkin, Times Herald-Record (NY)
Congress has stopped funding the elementary school program Reading First and its sister, Early Reading First, which targeted preschool kids. Jan. 18, 2010
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OKC Educare provides education, care for children to jumpstart their future
By Heide Brandes, OKC Biz
As the state's second Educare facility (the first being in Tulsa), Oklahoma City Educare serves 200 at-risk children year-round. In addition to enrollees, support staff works with pregnant women and newborns in receiving health services. Dec. 21, 2009
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Out of fields, into class for migrant kids
Elizabeth Pineda climbs out from bed, her 4-year-old son Adrian asleep nearby. It's a story repeated in migrant families across the United States: A chain of labor that stretches from one generation to the next. Private childcare is too expensive for most of these families, and the alternatives are limited. In this farming town in Fla., two Head Start centers have opened in the last year. And with a $26 million boost for Early Head Start in federal stimulus funds and separate $10 million expansion, nonprofit organizations around the country are hoping to expand enrollment of migrant infants and toddlers by thousands more. Christine Armario, The Associated Press, Sept. 29, 2009
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Out of fields, into class for migrant kids
With a $26 million boost for Early Head Start in federal stimulus funds and separate $10 million expansion, nonprofit organizations around the country are hoping to expand enrollment of migrant infants and toddlers by thousands more.
The Associated Press, Sept. 23, 2009
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Lacking funds, several Head Start programs lay off employees
By Jennifer Reeger
Possible state budget cuts are affecting Head Start, a federally-funded educational program for low-income children ages 3 to 5. The state of Pennsylvania offers supplemental funds to open up more classrooms for children in need.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Aug. 29, 2009
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A tale of two preschool programs
By Chris Linden
In practice, both programs have produced similar, yet drastically different results. As the Even Start early childhood program lies on the chopping block, its close cousin, Head Start, is receiving billions in new stimulus funds.
Medill Reports July 1, 2009
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Head Start kids to get dental lift
By Helen Altonn
Hawaii is one of 11 states chosen this year for a five-year, $10 million effort launched in February 2007 to establish a network of dentists to fight tooth decay -- the leading health problem in Head Start children.
The Star-Bulletin May 23, 2009
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Daycare, Head Start working together
"We're helping each other," child care coordinator Sharlene Giamalva said. "We feel really good about this." Daycare director Nita Shelden] and Giamalva said it's a unique opportunity for both organizations, and that Kansas Early Head Start usually partners with home day cares rather than community day cares . . . Kansas Early Head Start will pay Community Daycare for the current four spots and eventually six spots for its children, plus other costs on an as-needed basis. Monica Springer, The Garden City Telegram (KS), April 29, 2009
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"Head Start strives not to fall behind"
by David Murray
In an era when budgetary increases are hard to come by, Central Montana Head Start has had to find creative ways to maintain the level of services their families have come to rely on.
Lewistown News-Argus, 2/2/2009
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"Needing more of an Early Head Start"
by Loretta Park
Officials hope the national Head Start program will receive $2.1 billion from the federal stimulus package to add to its budget of $6.9 billion, which includes the Early Head Start funds.
Standard-Examiner, 1/29/2009
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"Social lessons pay off in preschool, study shows"
by Lauran Neergaard
Face it, 4-year-olds are lovable but self-centered, impulsive and prone to meltdowns. Teaching them not to whack a classmate who snatches a toy is a big part of preschool socialization.
Associated Press/MSNBC, 11/1/2008
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"Head Start partners with school districts"
by John Lowman
A partnership between three Brazoria County school districts and the Head Start program will bring added benefits to pre-kindergarten students both in the classroom and at home.
The Facts, 8/24/2008
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Head Start's holding pattern
by Gina Chen
Across the nation, Head Start programs are facing troubles related to a budget crunch: high staff turnover, reduced hours, staff cuts.
Post-Standard, 6/2/2008
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Therapeutic preschool helps troubled kids
by Jocelyn Wiener
Some pre-schoolers with behavioral probelms are thriving in a one-of-a-kind program started to help them in the classroom.
The Sacramento Bee, 9/17/2007
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The Preschool Question: Who Gets to Go?
by Maria Glod
Four- and 5-year-olds are at the center of a debate, underscored last week in a Virginia policy shift, over whether the government should offer preschool to all children or concentrate on those from poor families.
The Washington Post, 8/22/2007
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"The stumper: Point to 'nostril' "
by Kathryn Masterson and Stephanie Banchero
Congress is set to vote this spring on bills that would suspend Head Start's National Reporting Test, measures that recently passed House and Senate committees by wide margins. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of children across Illinois will take the exam next month as Head Start teachers attempt to measure the progress the youngsters have made since the beginning of the school year.
Chicago Tribune, 4/29/2007
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Are your kids too young for kindergarten?
by Natalia Mielczarek
The idea of looking at her son and saying "John, honey, they changed the rules, and you have to stay at home with Mommy another year" pains Michelle Rocha. Her son will turn 5 in August and is scheduled to go to kindergarten this fall. But a lawmaker from rural northeast Tennessee wants kindergartners to be older before they start school and is proposing increasing the age requirement by 3 months. The proposal comes as Gov. Phil Bredesen is pushing in the opposite direction: starting children in schools earlier through pre-kindergarten programs.
The Tennessean, 2/13/2007
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"Good health starts early"
by Kelly Bothum
There's good reason to start early. Childhood obesity has become an epidemic, and more children are being diagnosed with health problems such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea, conditions once considered hallmarks of old age.
Wilmington News Journal, 11/7/2006
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"Stronger oversight urged for Head Start programs"
by Cheryl Wetzstein
Hundreds of Head Start preschool programs have financial irregularities, a government watchdog agency says in calling for tougher oversight of the 40-year-old anti-poverty program.
The Washington Times, 3/18/2005
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Debate Continues Over Head Start Assessment
by Linda Jacobson
Education Week, 3/1/2004
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Head Start in Seattle Blending in Academics (free registration required)
by Linda Jacobson
Education Week, 4/1/2003
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Head Start Resists Efforts to Give Pupils a Real Boost
by Editorial/Opinion
USA Today, 2/1/2003
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