Research Studies

Celebrating Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Head Start (CORE) This 2000 study investigates diversity in the language and culture of the Head Start population and identifies the range of services provided to them.

Comprehensive Child Development Program (CCDP). (CORE) This section includes the 1997 CCDP Impact Evaluation Report and the CCDP Process Study Report, both designed to evaluate the CCDP, which tested whether a comprehensive community service program could identify low-income family needs and provide or refer these families to various services.

Descriptive Study of Head Start Health Services (CORE) This link provides access to the 1996 Health Services reports including: Volume I: Summary Report, Volume II: Technical Report, Volume III: Qualitative Data, and Volume IV: Appendices.

Early Head Start Reports (CORE) This link provides access to Early Head Start reports including the interim impact report when children were 2 years old, "Building Their Futures: How Early Head Start Programs Are Enhancing the Lives of Infants and Toddlers in Low-Income Families" (Summary Report, Volume I and Volume II), and the final impact report when children were age 3, "Making a Difference in the Lives of Infants and Toddlers" (Executive Summary, Volumes I, II, and III), as well as the implementation reports, "Leading the Way: Characteristics and Early Experience of Selected Early Head Start Programs" (Executive Summary, and Volumes I, II, and III).

Evaluation of Head Start Family Child Care Demonstration (CORE) This study evaluates whether services provided in family child care homes met Head Start Program Performance Standards and compares the outcomes for children and families participating in family child care homes to the outcomes for those participating in center classroom-based programs.

Family and Child Experiences Survey Reports (CORE) This link provides access to Head Start FACES: Second and Third Progress Reports, "FACES Findings: New Research on Head Start Program Quality and Outcomes," related archived reports, including "The First Progress Report on Head Start Program Performance Measures," and papers and presentations from national conferences.

Advisory Committee on Head Start Research and Evaluation. This Congressionally mandated committee was established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in order to make recommendations for a study or studies that provide a national analysis of the impact of Head Start. See the report link below and also the Head Start Impact Study.

Evaluating Head Start: A Recommended Framework for Studying the Impact of the Head Start Program (also available in PDF). This 1999 report summarizes the deliberations of the expert panel that developed a set of recommendations on the design of a Congressionally-mandated study of the impact of Head Start.

Creating a 21st Century Head Start: Executive Summary of the Final Report of the Advisory Committee on Head Start Quality and Expansion This 1993 report focuses on guiding programmatic priorities; improving the quality of services; expanding the number of children served and the scope of services provided.

Head Start Research and Evaluation: A Blueprint for the Future (also available in PDF). This 1990 report defines the overall strategy and eight general principles to guide Head Start research and evaluation from the Advisory Panel for the Head Start Evaluation Project. In addition, research directions and support activities are recommended.

The Statement of the Advisory Committee on Services for Families with Infants and Toddlers This 1994 report calls for programs to provide family-centered and community-based services and supports that are individualized, of highest quality, and that promote positive health and development.

Infant Mental Health Report and Literature Review (CORE) This page provides information on efforts undertaken by the Head Start Bureau to understand and address the mental health needs of infants and toddlers, and includes a report and a literature review generated for the Infant Mental Health Forum held in October 2000.

Preliminary Report on the Head Start Teaching Center Demonstration Project This report presents initial findings regarding the development and testing of effective training approaches.

Report on Head Start Monitoring FY 1999 This report summarizes the results of monitoring reviews of Head Start and Early Head Start Programs conducted during the 1999 program year.

Report On Head Start Monitoring FY 2000
The Head Start Federal monitoring process ensures that grantees provide high quality, comprehensive services to the children and families they serve. This report provides the Congress with:
    a brief overview of the Head Start program and the legislative mandate for this report,
    a description of the Head Start monitoring process,
    a summary of the on-site monitoring results, and
    a discussion of grantees determined to have deficiencies.