The Headstart Program, Essay Example

Background and Introduction

The head start program advises the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families on the program objectives.  It is a national program that is aimed at the  promotion of school readiness, by the enhancement of social and cognitive development of children; providing  such items as health and social services to children and families enrolled in the program.  The program was designed to provide grants to local public and not-for-profit agencies; these to provide “comprehensive Child development services to disadvantaged children and families” (Fuentes).

The head start program administered by the US Department of Health and social services has several components.  The services include access to parental care and food program for mothers with newly born children and those struggling with children under five years of age.  Our children that have been placed into foster care may benefit from the head start program of the regardless of the foster parent teacher.  The objective here being to provide financial support for children to participate in preschool activities.  A person that is looking after child and is receiving welfare or disability pay will automatically qualify for the head start program.  “A 1995 study showed that white children to ride more long-term benefit from head start, the children of other races.  (Ellis-Christensen).

The program started in 1965 as part of President Johnson’s war on poverty.

Myth of the fade out effect

Head start.  [HS] “produces a whole range of educational, health and law enforcement benefits.” (NHSA).

The stated myth  is that all of these benefits evaporate immediately the child completes the HS program.  This fade out effect originated from the findings of a study carried out by Westinghouse learning Corp. and Ohio University in 1969.  It stated that the HS program is fundamentally flawed and that many of the HS students attended low-quality elementary schools.  Despite the negative elements of this study they did point out, the popular action abuse the right thing from the program: —

• favorable long-term effects of HS children with reduced need for special education;
• a reduction in the high school dropout rate;
• reduction in mortality rates for 5 to 9-year-olds, reducing the national average rates for mortality of children in this age group;
• a general improvement in the health of children and a reduction in juvenile crime.

The Head Start Experience

In 1990.  It was the 25th anniversary of the head start program.  It was described as being successfully and that it has achieved a range of comprehensive services that included: Involvement and family support, local training needs and the build of a collaborative approach in meeting the educational needs of poor and low-income families.  Annual statistics have reported the success of the HS program.  It included results of more than 1200 HS programs across the USA.  In 19 8889 statistics showed the following: —

• 99% of role needing medical treatment, and the program responded by 98% percent of recipients of obtaining it;
• 98% completed with the immunization requirements;
• 95% of families received social services from head start or a referred  agency.

With a comprehensive range of services provision, a chess improve the learning abilities for a wide number of children and help them to develop socially, intellectually, physically and emotionally. (Mallory)

HS program was particularly successful in the parental involvement.  Each HS program having a parent involvement  coordinator and this mandates parental involvement to specific staff members on the program.  In 1989, they showed 443,000 parents involved in local programs .  HS provides the individual attention hat  parent’s require and fully involves e them in the decision-making elements of the program. ” What lessons have been learned from the Head Start experience of the past 25 years? Head Start works because of the type of services it provides to children and families and because it has received strong support from parents and policymakers (Zigler and Valentine, 1979). Physically and mentally healthy families are essential to children’s optimal growth and development. Both families and children must be the focus of service agencies whether these agencies are involved in education, health, social services, or Head Start (Schorr, 1988).  ”  (Mallory).

Head Start Facts & Statistics

“Since 1965, Head Start has served over 15.3 million children and their families. Head Start plays a major role in focusing attention on the importance of early childhood development. The program also has an impact on: child development and day care services; the expansion of state and local activities for children; the range and quality of services offered to young children and their families; and the design of training programs for those who staff such programs. Outreach and training activities also assist parents in increasing their parenting skills and knowledge of child development.”  (Head Start Bureau).

California produced some very impressive statistics on the HC program in that state ” California has 1,950 Head Start/Early Head Start/Tribal/Migrant centers housing  5,325 classes, along with 690 family child care homes and 811 home-based socialization groups that serve funded enrolment. In California’s Head Start community there are 23,153 staff serving children and families. 22.3% of the employees are or were Head Start or Early Head Start parents. During this past program year, over 121,510 volunteers provided service to local Head Start programs. 85.8% of the volunteers are current or former parents of the local Head Start program.”  (CHSA)

The State of Kentucky released the following facts and statistical information on the success of their HS Program:  (KHSA)

Office of Head start

The central office of Head Start (HS) program defined its’ central mission as follows: “The Office of Head Start (OHS) advises the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families on issues regarding the Head Start program (including Early Head Start). The Office develops legislative and budgetary proposals; identifies areas for research, demonstration, and developmental activities; presents operational planning objectives and initiatives relating to Head Start to the Assistant Secretary for Administration for Children and Families; and oversees the progress of approved activities. OHS provides leadership and coordination for the activities of the Head Start program in the ACF Central Office including the Head Start Regional Program Units. The Office represents Head Start in inter-agency activities with other Federal and non-Federal organizations.”  (Fuentes).

The Head Start program provides comprehensive quality standards over a number of key areas. These being illustrated in Fig 2 to the right.  These standards provide a national framework for all of the States to adapt to their own HS program. Each specific standard provides comprehensive information on interpretation and how these might best be implemented.  Source :  (ECQN)

Head start Teachers

There is a considerable need for teachers to join the HS program.  The demand for preschool educators is growing and there is a lobby to try and get HS program teacher salaries increased in order to match counterparts in the private sector.  There are a number of steps that have to be followed in order to gain acceptance as a HS teacher.

1. Obtain the child development Association certificate [CDA] in preschool education or an associate degree from an accredited college.  HS classes I’m normally staffed by a qualified teacher and a teachers aide;
2. It is normal to have two years experience working with younger children, either as a supervised student or experience with younger children at her previous school;
3. Development of leadership and organizational skills are required.  This can either be by reading or taking an appropriate course for the two education leadership;
4. Development of communication skills both written and verbal;
5. Obtaining the CPR — first aid certificate.  This can be accomplished with the help of the local Red Cross chapter;
6. Contact local head start, location and complete the necessary application forms;
7. Obtain all your necessary documentation sets.  Prior to the HS interview.  This would include such items as degree transcripts, teaching certificates, references, other relevant course certificates, first aid certificate and details of work experience.

One of the main barriers in attracting qualified teachers to the HS program is that of the salary and compensation.  There’s been a lot of serious debate as to how this problem might get resolved.  The current compensation and benefits are extremely low compared with other K-12 teachers.

Head start has  around 50,000 teachers engaged in the program across all of the states.  The average salary is around $21,000 per year.  This compared to public school teachers who earn  over twice that amount and average around $43,000 per year.  The difference being about $1 billion in order to achieve equality of pay.  Head start teachers need to improve the teacher qualifications; in 2001 it was suggested that by 2003 all of the HS teachers should have a minimum of an associate degree.  It has been proven that preschool teachers with a BA in early childhood education are the most effective teachers.  At the moment around 30% of HS teachers hold a BA degree.

“The estimated costs of fully implementing the BA requirement over 8 years are shown in Fig 4. Annual estimated costs of this plan rise from $176 million in the first year to $500 million in Year 5 and $1.1 billion in Year 8 when fully implemented. The cumulative costs over 5 years would be less than $2 billion. An additional cost not included in these calculations is scholarship and other funds that would assist current Head Start teachers to return to school in order to obtain degrees.”  (NIEER)

Works Cited

CHSA. Head Start/Early Head Start in California Fact Sheet. 2009. 5 5 2005 <http://www.caheadstart.org/facts.html>.

ECQN. Head Start Performance Standards – Searchable. 2009. 5 5 2005 <http://www.ecqnet.org/ecq/HeadStart/perfstand/index.cfm>.

Ellis-Christensen, Tricia. What is Head Start? 23 4 2010. 5 5 2010 <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-head-start.htm>.

Fuentes, Yvette Sanchez. Administration for Children and Families. 21 1 2010. 5 5 2010 <http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs/about/index.html#mission>.

Head Start Bureau. Head Start Fact Sheet. 2010. 5 5 2010 <http://www.head-start.lane.or.us/general/facts.html>.

KHSA. KY Head Start Facts. 2009. 5 5 2005 <http://www.khsa.org/facts.asp>.

Mallory, Nancy J. – Goldsmith, Nancy A. The Head Start Experience. ERIC Digest. . 1991. 5 5 2010 <http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9218/head.htm>.

NHSA. NHSA. 2002. 5 5 2010 <http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:uP4IrmC2Y2UJ:www.nhsa.org/files/static_page_files/39A3801A-1D09-3519-ADC6BAF6529D3D65/MythoftheFadeoutEffect.pdf+Head+Start+Myth+of+the+fade+out+effect&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShZRy0suS33EoPkpuROqoXxGKk75VEH>.

NIEER. NIEER Fact Sheet on Head Start Teachers – July 2003. 2003. 5 5 2005 <http://nieer.org/resources/facts/index.php?FastFactID=12>.