| Description: |
Head Start Impact Study: Final Report— examined the effects of offering Head Start to 3- and 4-year-olds. The study analyzed data on about 4,700 preschool-aged children who applied for enrollment for the 2002–03 program- year, at one of about 380 Head Start centers randomly selected for the study, and followed the students through first grade. The study compared the outcomes of children who were offered enrollment in Head Start to the outcomes of children who were not offered enrollment. School-readiness outcomes, which are the focus of this quick review, were measured using standardized cognitive assessments of language and literacy, pre-writing, and math skills administered at the end of each year through first grade. This quick review has been updated with a revised WWC study rating based on additional attrition and baseline equivalence information provided by the authors. With regard to effectiveness at the first follow-up, the study found that children offered the chance to enroll in Head Start as 3-year-olds had higher scores on four of eight measures of language and literacy, the single measure of pre-writing, and one of two measures of math skills, than children not offered enrollment as 3-year-olds. Children offered the chance to enroll in Head Start as 4-year-olds had higher scores on six of eight measures of language and literacy at the first follow-up than children not offered enrollment as 4-year-olds. There were no significant differences between the groups in pre-writing or math skills. WWC rated the first follow-up analysis as meets WWC evidence standards with reservations. Concerning effectiveness at the later follow-up, the study found no significant differences between the children offered and not offered the chance to enroll in Head Start as 3-year-olds on language and literacy, pre-writing, and math skills measured at the second, third, and fourth follow-ups. In addition, there were no significant differences between the children offered and not offered the chance to enroll in Head Start as 4-year-olds on language and literacy and math skills measured at the second and third follow-ups which corresponded to the ends of kindergarten and first grade, respectively. WWC's rating of the second, third and fourth follow-up analysis is meets WWC Evidence Standards. |
