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CHILD CARE QUALITY: PROCEDURAL QUALITY
HEAD START FAMILY AND CHILD EXPERIENCES SURVEY
Measure: Selected “child care” and “satisfaction with Head Start” items from the Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey Parent Interviews (Head Start Parent Interview, Kindergarten Parent Interview, First Grade Parent Interview)
Source
The Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (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.
The “child care” items were developed by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development study of early child care [See Emlen, A. (1998). From a parent’s point of view: Flexibility, income, and quality of child care. Background paper for New Perspectives on Child Care Quality Conference, SEED 2000 Consortium of Federal Agencies, Bethesda, MD]. The Head Start Quality Research Consortium developed the “satisfaction with Head Start” items.
In addition to FACES, some of these items and variations of the items were also used by the following EDCP evaluations and surveys: National Head Start Impact Study (Fall 2002 Parent Interview, Spring 2003 Parent Interview).
Population Assessed
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.
FACES 1997. Data from the initial cohort for the main study of FACES 1997 was 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 the first-grade year or spring of kindergarten for those who were 3 years old in fall 1997), and 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. (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).
Each cohort of FACES has approximately equal numbers of girls and boys and representative samples of white, African American, Hispanic, and children of other races (see exhibits 1 and 2).
| Weighted Percentages | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| All (n=3,120) | Age 3 (n=1,129) | Age 4 (n=1,991) | |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 50.4 | 48.7 | 51.2 |
| Female | 49.6 | 51.4 | 48.8 |
| Ethnicity | |||
| African American | 28.8 | 34.7 | 26.1 |
| White | 30.7 | 29.0 | 31.4 |
| Hispanic/Latino | 27.6 | 22.5 | 30.0 |
| Native American | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.7 |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| Other | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.6 |
| African American | White | Hispanic | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | |
| Male | 343 | 13.8 | 471 | 19.0 | 363 | 14.6 | 65 | 2.6 | 1242 | 50.1 |
| Female | 383 | 15.4 | 415 | 16.7 | 371 | 14.9 | 68 | 2.7 | 1237 | 49.9 |
| Total | 726 | 29.3 | 886 | 35.7 | 734 | 29.6 | 133 | 5.4 | 2479 | 100 |
Periodicity
In the initial field test for FACES, parent interviews were collected in spring 1997 and again in a spring 1998 follow-up when the children were in kindergarten.
Parent interview data from the initial cohort for the main study of FACES 1997 were first collected in fall 1997 and spring 1998 (spring of the Head Start year). Follow-up parent interviews were conducted in 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 the 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).
For FACES 2000, Parent interview 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).
For the FACES 2003 cohort, parent interview data were collected in fall 2003, 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).
The “Satisfaction with Head Start” items were administered only when the sampled child was in spring of his/her Head Start year (e.g., for FACES 2000, this would be Spring 2001 or Spring 2002).
Subscales/Components
The majority of questions about child care quality (procedural) come from two sections within the parent interviews: child care and satisfaction with Head Start. The child care section asks a number of questions that do not directly assess quality, including child care arrangements other than Head Start, the amount of time spent in care, the child’s age in months when placed in care, the type of arrangements, and the number of different arrangements. There is one specific item that assesses procedural quality: it asks about the child’s experience in care, including things like whether the child feels safe/secure, whether he/she gets lots of individual attention, and whether the caregiver is open to new information and learning. The section about satisfaction with Head Start asks parents to think about what has happened in Head Start over the past year and think about their level of satisfaction with how Head Start is doing in numerous areas, including things like helping the child to grow and develop and preparing a child to enter kindergarten. This section also asks about a child’s and his/her parents’ own experience in Head Start (e.g., whether the child feels safe and secure in Head Start, whether the child is happy in the program, and whether the child is treated with respect by teachers).
Procedures for Administration
Head Start Parent Interview: The parent or the primary caregiver of the study child completes the interview in a one-on-one setting where the interviewer asks questions and writes the respondent’s answers. The complete Head Start parent interview takes about 60 minutes.
Kindergarten Parent Interview: The parent or the primary caregiver of the study child completes the interview in a one-on-one setting either in-person or by telephone. The complete kindergarten parent interview takes about 30 minutes.
First Grade Parent Interview: The parent or the primary caregiver of the study child completes the interview in a one-on-one setting either in-person or by telephone. The complete kindergarten parent interview takes about 30 minutes.
Psychometrics/Data Quality
Psychometric information is not yet available.
Languages Available
The parent interviews can be administered in English and Spanish. For respondents who speak a language other than English or Spanish, an interpreter is used (if possible).
Items Included
Note: Items included are from the first administration of the interviews. The items are also included in subsequent interviews, with minor differences/additions/changes. Full interviews are available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/faces/index.html
Child Care Items:
Now I’m going to ask you about CHILD’s experience in this care. Please let me know which answer best describes CHILD’s experience. Tell me if it is never, sometimes, often, or always.
| Never | Sometimes | Often | Always | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. CHILD feels safe and secure in child care | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| b. CHILD gets lots of individual attention | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| c. CHILD's caregiver is open to new information and learning | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Satisfaction with Head Start Items:
- Based on what has happened at Head Start since [CHILD] started the Head Start program, how satisfied are you with how well Head Start is doing in each of the following areas:
- Now I'm going to ask you about CHILD's and your experience in Head Start. Please let me know which answer best describes CHILD's and your Head Start experience.
| Very dissatisfied | Somewhat dissatisfied | Somewhat satisfied | Very satisfied | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. Helping CHILD to grow and develop | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| b. Being open to your ideas and participation | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| c. Supporting and respecting your family's culture and background | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| d. Identifying and providing services for CHILD-- for example, health screening, help with speech and language development | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| e. Identifying and helping to provide services that help your family -- for example, public assistance, transportation, or job training | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| f. Maintaining a safe program -- for example, secure playgrounds, clean and tidy classrooms | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| g. Preparing CHILD to enter kindergarten | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| h. Helping you become more involved in groups that are active in your community | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Never | Sometimes | Often | Always | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. CHILD feels safe and secure in Head Start | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| b. CHILD gets lots of individual attention | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| c. CHILD's teacher is open to new information and learning | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| d. CHILD has been happy in the program | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| e. The teacher is warm and affectionate towards CHILD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| f. CHILD is treated with respect by teachers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| g. The teacher takes an interest in CHILD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| h. CHILD feels accepted by the teacher | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| i. The teacher is supportive of you as a parent | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| j. You feel welcomed by the | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| k. The teacher handles discipline matters easily without being harsh | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| l. The teacher seems happy and content | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| m. The assistant teacher/aide is warm and affectionate towards CHILD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
References and Source Documents
The parent interviews are available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/faces/index.html
A number of FACES reports are available on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site: 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 FACES presentations and papers is available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/faces/index.html
More information about the FACES 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
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