Head Start variation quantified for the first time

A paper from MDRC analyzes variation in the effects of the Head Start program using data from the Head Start Impact Study (HSIS). The MDRC paper confirms previous studies that suggested substantial variation in the effects of Head Start in relation to the individual, subgroup, and between Head Start centers.
 

The main findings were:

• Head Start improved cognitive outcomes in children with the lowest cognitive skills and tended to reduce disparities between children in key cognitive outcomes.
• Dual-language and Spanish-speaking children with low pretest scores gained the most from Head Start.
• Much of the positive effect of Head Start came from mitigating for limited prior English; the positive effect on children with limited English persisted for at least three years.
• The added value of Head Start compared with local alternatives varied substantially between centers and reflected differences in provision (such as hours of care, teacher education, and classroom quality).
• Some Head Start centers were much more effective than alternatives (including parental care) and others were much less effective than alternatives.

Johns Hopkins University 

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