This study has been criticized for having a faulty design, leading to biased results. Gains were particularly noteworthy among blacks and among children attending Head Start in central cities and in the Southeast. Full year programs resulted in cognitive and language gains at the first grade level but appeared to "fade out" by second or third grade. Summer programs were found to have no lasting impact. In 1969, the Westinghouse Learning Corporation completed the first major evaluation of Head Start. WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SHOW? Head Start Evaluations The Westinghouse study, 1969 This expansion of Head Start, taking place in the context of many other program and policy developments, has led policy-makers to explore more closely the evidence of its success. This would mark the single largest funding increase for Head Start since it began providing full-year services in 1966. The President's FY 1991 budget provides a $500 million increase for Head Start. In FY 1989, Head Start programs spent over $1.2 billion, for an average annual cost-per-child of about $2,660. As a result of Head Start's emphasis on parental involvement, 32 percent of Head Start staff were parents of current or former Head Start children. These agencies operated 24,000 classrooms and employed 80,000 staff nationwide. In FY 1989, over 1900 grantees and delegate agencies provided services to over 450,000 children, 65 percent of whom were four-year-olds. In recognition of the important role parents play in their child's development, Head Start programs are required to provide for the direct participation of parents in the development, conduct, and direction of local programs. Head Start programs provide comprehensive child development, educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to predominantly low-income preschool children and their families. ADDITIONAL TOPICS RELATED TO HEAD START'S EFFECTIVENESS Coordination with State Preschool Programs Coordination with the Family Support Act Allocating Expansion Funds for Quality, Enrollment, and Management REFERENCES NOTES I. CURRENT AND PLANNED RESEARCH EFFORTS Head Start Evaluation Design Study Long-Term Benefits and Cost-Effectiveness of Head Start V. WHAT RESEARCH IS NEEDED Follow Through Project Developmental Continuity Current Initiatives IV. WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SHOW? Head Start Evaluations Other Preschool Program Evaluations Program Characteristics Associated with Positive Outcomes III. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Management and Budget, or any other funding organization. The opinions and views expressed in this technical analysis paper are those of the author. For additional information about this subject, you can visit the ASPE home page at. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Family, Community and Long-Term Care Policy (now the Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy). Department of Health and Human Services March 29, 1990 McGroder Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and EvaluationU.S. Department of Health and Human Services Head Start: What Do We Know About What Works? Sharon M.
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