Table of Contents | Previous | Next |
HEAD START FAMILY AND CHILD EXPERIENCES SURVEY (FACES)
Purpose
The Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) is a national longitudinal study of the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development of Head Start children; the characteristics, well-being, and accomplishments of their families; the observed quality of Head Start classrooms; and the characteristics, needs, and opinions of Head Start teachers and other program staff. The study began with a field-test sample in spring 1997. Data collection on the first cohort of the FACES main study (referred to as FACES 1997) began in fall 1997 and concluded in spring 2001. FACES 1997 also included a validation substudy or embedded case study to provide a more complete profile of Head Start families and children, their neighborhoods, and their interactions with Head Start. The FACES 1997 case study provides in-depth cross-sectional and longitudinal descriptive data, both qualitative and quantitative, over a 2-year period. This embedded case study is unique to FACES 1997 and was not a part of the subsequent FACES studies.
Since the conclusion of the study on this initial cohort of FACES, two new national cohorts of FACES were launched. The second national cohort of FACES was launched in fall 2000 (FACES 2000) and data collection concluded in spring 2003. Data on a third national cohort (FACES 2003) were collected in fall 2003 and will conclude in spring 2006.
FACES was designed to address the Head Start Program Performance Measures assessing the quality and effectiveness of Head Start programs. These Program Performance Measures are based on the ultimate goal of Head Start: to promote the school readiness of Head Start children.
- Does Head Start enhance children’s development and school readiness?
- Does Head Start strengthen families as primary nurturers of their children?
- Does Head Start provide children with high-quality educational, health, and nutritional services?
- Does Head Start link children and families to needed community services?
- Does Head Start ensure well-managed programs that involve parents in decision making?
The following FACES report is available on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/faces/index.html :
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2001, January). Head Start FACES:
Longitudinal findings on program performance, third progress report. Washington, DC: Author.
For more information:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/index.html.
Agencies/Institutions
The FACES evaluation is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. The project team for FACES 1997 included Westat (prime contractor), Abt Associates, Ellsworth Associates, and the CDM group. The project team for FACES 2000 included Westat (prime contractor), Xtria (formerly Ellsworth Associates), and the CDM group. The project team for FACES 2003 included Westat (prime contractor), Xtria, and the CDM group.
Research/Survey Design
FACES is a national, longitudinal, nonexperimental evaluation of children and families participating in the Head Start program. Each cohort of FACES employs a nationally representative sample of Head Start programs, centers, classrooms, children, and parents. Each sample is stratified by three variables: region of the country (northeast, Midwest, south, or west); urbanicity (urban versus rural); and percentage of minority families in the program (50 percent or more versus less than 50 percent). Data collection methods included child assessments, parent interviews, teacher reports, staff interviews, and classroom observations. Since its inception, FACES has involved an initial field-test sample and three nationally representative cohorts: FACES 1997, FACES 2000, and FACES 2003.
FACES 1997 field test. FACES was field tested in spring 1997 with 2,400 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds and their parents in a nationally stratified random sample of 40 Head Start programs. These children were followed up in spring 1998 when the children were in kindergarten. Data were collected for 1,428 children.
FACES 1997. Data from the initial cohort for the main study of FACES1997 were first collected in fall 1997 on 3,200 children and families from the same 40 Head Start programs employed in the field test. Data were collected on 1,200 3-year-olds new to Head Start; 1,280 4- and 5-year-olds new to Head Start; and 720 4- and 5-year-olds who were in the field-test study and returning for another year of Head Start. Data on these children were also collected in spring 1998 (spring of the Head Start year), spring 1999 (spring of the kindergarten year or spring of the Head Start year for those who were 3 years old in fall 1997), spring 2000 (spring of first grade year or spring of kindergarten for those who were 3 years old in fall 1997), and then spring 2001 (spring of the first-grade year for those who were 3 years old in fall 1997).
FACES 1997 also included a validation substudy or embedded case study of 120 randomly selected families from the larger FACES sample to provide a more complete profile of Head Start families and children, their neighborhoods, and their interaction with Head Start. This case study provided in-depth, cross-sectional and longitudinal descriptive qualitative and quantitative data over a 2 year period. (NB. The embedded case study was not a part of FACES 2000 or FACES 2003). Data collection included in-person parent interviews, home and neighborhood observations, monthly telephone contacts for demographic updates, and community agency interviews regarding the amount and overall nature of collaboration between the agency and the Head Start program.
FACES 2000. A new national cohort of FACES was launched in fall 2000 (FACES 2000). Beginning in fall 2000, data from 2,800 children and families in a new nationally stratified random sample of 43 Head Start programs were collected to ascertain what progress was made in improving program performance. Data were collected in fall 2000, spring 2001, spring 2002 (when children were in kindergarten or in a second year of Head Start), and spring 2003 (when the children who were 3 years old in fall 2000 were in kindergarten).
FACES 2003. Data on a third national cohort (FACES 2003) were collected in fall 2003. Data from 2,700 children and families in a new nationally stratified random sample of 66 programs were collected in fall 2003 and will be collected in spring 2004, spring 2005 (when children are in kindergarten or in a second year of Head Start), and spring 2006 (when the children who were 3 years old in fall 2000 are in kindergarten).
For more information:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/index.html.
Date(s)/Periodicity
FACES 1997 had six phases of data collection and followed 3- and 4-year-old Head Start children from entry into Head Start, through 1 or 2 years of program participation, with follow-up in spring of kindergarten and spring of first grade. The FACES 1997 evaluation began in spring 1997 and concluded in spring 2001. The first phase was a spring 1997 field test. Phases two and three of FACES occurred in fall 1997 (Wave 1) and spring 1998 (Wave 2), which were the fall and spring of the children’s first year of Head Start. Phase four occurred in spring 1999; phase five, in spring 2000; and phase six, in spring 2001.
A new national cohort of FACES was launched in fall 2000. FACES 2000 features four phases of data collection and follows 3- and 4-year-old Head Start children from program entry through spring of kindergarten. Data were collected in fall 2000, spring 2001, spring 2002, and spring 2003. The third national cohort of FACES, FACES 2003, also includes four phases of data collection, following 3- and 4-year-old Head Start children from program entry through spring of kindergarten: fall 2003, spring 2004, spring 2005, and spring 2006.
FACES 1997 involved data collection up until spring of the first-grade year. FACES 2000 and FACES 2003 involved data collection until spring of the kindergarten year. FACES 1997 also included a validation substudy, which was not included in FACES 2000 or FACES 2003.
For more information:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/index.html.
Population/Sample
FACES is a representative sample of 3,200 children who were 3 and 4 years old and their parents in a nationally, stratified random sample of 40 Head Start programs. The sample was stratified by three variables: region of the country, urbanicity, and percentage of minority families in the program. Response rates for the first two cohorts of FACES are as follows.
FACES 1997
Fall 1997: Of the 40 programs that participated, at least one classroom was observed in 180 out of 181 centers (n = 506), so classroom quality data was collected for 2,560 of the 3,006 children in the main study sample (85 percent). Assessment, parent, or teacher data were obtained on 2,657 of the 3,006 sample children (88 percent). Parent interviews were completed for 2,424 out of the 3,006 families selected for the sample (81 percent). Child assessments were completed for 2,451 out of 3,006 children (82 percent). Teacher report forms were obtained on 2,557 of the sample children (85 percent).
Spring 1998: Assessment, parent, or teacher data were obtained for 2,352 of the children (78 percent). A total of 480 classrooms were observed, so classroom quality data were obtained for 2,116 of the children (90 percent). Parent interviews were completed for 2,155 children (70 percent of the original sample). Spring child assessments were completed for 2,183 children (73 percent of the original sample). Teacher report forms were obtained for 2,234 children (74 percent of the original sample).
Spring 1999: Assessment, parent, or teacher data were obtained for 2,068 children (81 percent of children targeted for follow-up and 69 percent of original sample). Data were obtained on 1,067 kindergarten children (75 percent of those designated for follow-up) and 1,001 children in their second year of Head Start (88 percent of those designated for follow-up). Parent interviews were completed for 1,058 kindergarten children (75 percent) and 881 Head Start children (77 percent). Developmental assessments were completed for 989 kindergarten children (70 percent) and 965 Head Start children (84 percent). Teacher report forms were obtained for 786 kindergarten children (55 percent) and 851 Head Start children (74 percent).
FACES 2000
A new national cohort of FACES was launched in fall 2000 with a national probability sample of 2,800 children entering Head Start in 43 new Head Start programs.
- Response rates for Fall 2000:
— 2,508 child assessments were completed out of 2,790 (90 percent).
— 2,488 parent interviews were completed out of 2,790 families selected for the sample (89 percent).
— Teacher report forms were obtained on 2,532 of the sample children (91 percent).
— Assessment, parent, and teacher data were obtained on 2,396 of the 2,790 sample children (86 percent).
— 278 classrooms were observed out of 286 in the sample (97 percent).
- Response rates for Spring 2001:
— 2,232 child assessments were completed out of 2,288, representing 98 percent of the children who remained in the program, and 80 percent of the original sample (2,790).
— 2,166 parent interviews were completed out of 2,288, representing 95 percent of the children who remained in the program, and 78 percent of the original sample.
— Teacher report forms were obtained on 2,236 of the sample children, representing 98 percent of the children who remained in the program and 80 percent of the original sample.
— Assessment, parent, and teacher data were obtained on 2,115 of the 2,288 sample children who remained in the program (92 percent).
— A total of 275 classrooms were observed out of 284 in the sample (97 percent).
- Response rates for Spring 2002 (Kindergartners Only)
— 831 child assessments were completed out of 979, representing 85 percent of the children who were in kindergarten in spring, 2002.
— 901 parent interviews were completed out of 979, representing 92 percent of the children who were in kindergarten in spring, 2002.
— Teacher report forms were obtained on 681 of the children, representing 70 percent of the children who were in kindergarten in spring, 2002.
— Assessment, parent, and teacher data were obtained on 624 of the 979 children who were in kindergarten in spring, 2002 (64 percent).
Each cohort of FACES has approximately equal numbers of girls and boys. Representative samples of white, African American, Hispanic, and children of other races were included.
The following FACES report is available on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/faces/index.html.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2001, January). Head Start FACES: Longitudinal findings on program performance, third progress report. Washington, DC: Author. Available at
For more information:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/index.html.
Content Covered
Data collection methods for the main samples included child assessments, parent interviews, staff interviews, and classroom instruments. Instruments for the FACES 1997, FACES 2000, and FACES 2003 studies have remained largely to ensure the comparability among the cohorts, with some minor revision based on field experiences and newly released versions of the instruments or as measures with acceptable psychometric properties become available.
The child assessment covered cognitive outcomes and socio-emotional outcomes, including children’s language, literacy, and numeracy development, and their self-regulation and socio-emotional development. The parent interviews covered areas such as activities with the child, disabilities, the child’s activities, the child’s behavior, household rules, the parent and family, employment and income, community services, child care, family health care, home safety, home and neighborhood characteristics, the parent’s feelings, satisfaction with Head Start, and getting ready for kindergarten. Staff questionnaires included center director interviews, education coordinator interviews, classroom teacher interviews, family service worker interviews, and teacher self-administered surveys. These questionnaires included information about employment and educational background, parent involvement, curriculum and classroom activities, home visits, children’s functioning and capabilities, in-service training, and case management. Classroom instruments were selected to assess the quality of the early childhood environment, such as caregiver’s behavior toward the children, the schedule that the classroom follows, the developmental appropriateness of the classroom activities, and the ratio of staff to children.
Data collection methods for the validation substudy for FACES 1997 included home visit parent interviews, home and neighborhood observations, monthly telephone contacts with the family, and community agency telephone interviews. The home visit parent interviews were semi-structured, open-ended interviews conducted with Head Start parents regarding their families, their experiences with Head Start, and their neighborhoods. Home and neighborhood observations were reported by the interviewers and by the families during home visits. Monthly telephone contacts provided family updates on changes in household composition, child care arrangements, employment status, health status, and Head Start participation. Lastly, community agency telephone interviews were conducted to assess the amount and overall nature of collaboration between their agency and the Head Start program.
For more information:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/index.html.
Availability of Data for Public Use
Data for public use is not yet available.
Reference List for Users’ Guide, Codebooks, Methodology Report(s)
A number of FACES reports are available on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/faces/index.html.
The reports include the following:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2003, June). Head Start FACES (2000): A whole child perspective on program performance, fourth progress report. Washington, DC: Author.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2002, January). A descriptive study of Head Start families: FACES technical report I. Washington, DC: Author.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2001, January). Head Start FACES: Reaching out to families: Head Start recruitment and enrollment practices. Washington, DC: Author.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2001, January). Head Start FACES (1997): Longitudinal findings on program performance, third progress report. Washington, DC: Author.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2000, June). FACES findings: New research on Head Start program quality and outcomes. Washington, DC: Author.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1998, June). Head Start FACES (Pilot): Program performance measures, second progress report. Washington, DC: Author.
Information about presentations and papers is available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/faces/index.html.
More information about the validation substudy is available in the following paper:
Vaden-Kiernan, M., D’Elio, M. A., & Sprague, K. (n.d.). The FACES embedded case study: Documenting the methodology and early findings. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/faces/pres_papers/embedded_casestdy/embedded.pdf
| Table of Contents | Previous | Next |