�| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 |
Head Start Children Improve Skills
WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Head Start students made significant gains over the most recent school year studied in vocabulary, early math, early writing and early reading according to new research.
The research brief, FACES 2003: Children’s Outcomes and Program Quality in Head Start, describes data gathered about Head Start program quality and child outcomes. As part of the Head Start Program Performance Measures Initiative, there have been three Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) studies, with cohorts beginning in 1997, 2000 and 2003. Approximately 2,400 newly entering 3- and 4-year old children and their families from 63 Head Start programs participated in the FACES 2003 study. Research was conducted by Westat, Xtria and CDM. Future reports from the FACES 2003 cohort will include analyses of Head Start children’s progress through the end of their kindergarten year.
FACES Findings: New Research on Head Start Outcomes and Program Quality is a companion piece for Head Start practitioners. It presents findings from FACES 2003 as well as earlier studies, and the shorter format makes it easy for teachers and directors to quickly reference topics.
“The FACES studies are an important component of Head Start’s measurement activities,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Wade F. Horn, Ph.D. “This information shows strengths and weaknesses and supports continuous program improvement.”
The study includes comprehensive data about the cognitive and social-emotional development of Head Start children, family characteristics, classroom quality and teachers and staff. This data is gathered through child assessments, classroom observations and interviews with Head Start parents, teachers and administrators.
Some of the highlights of the report include:
• Head Start children made significant gains over the 2003-2004 Head Start year in vocabulary, early math, early writing and (for 4-year-olds only) early reading.
• Gains in letter identification and early reading increased across the three FACES cohorts (1997, 2000 and 2003).
• In FACES 2003, one third of Head Start families reported speaking a language other than English in the home.
• Teacher educational credentials in Head Start were higher in FACES 2003 than in FACES 2000 and FACES 1997.
Both the research brief and the guide for practitioners can be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/faces/index.html
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Note: All ACF news releases, fact sheets and other materials are available at www.acf.hhs.gov/opa/index.html.