National Studies

American Indian-Alaska Native Head Start Research and Outcomes Assessment (CORE) This two-year initiative will review existing information, collect new data, and explore research needs for American Indian-Alaska Native Head Start Programs.

Early Head Start (CORE) This study of 3,000 families in 17 diverse communities involves an implementation study of programs, an impact study of child and family outcomes, local research and policy studies, and continuous program improvement. The study is currently following children and families as children are entering Kindergarten.

Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) (CORE) This study collected data on a nationally representative sample of 3,200 children and families in 40 Head Start programs in order to describe the characteristics, experiences, and outcomes for children and families in Head Start and after a year of kindergarten. A new national cohort of FACES was launched in Fall 2000, with a national probability sample of 2,800 children entering Head Start in 43 new Head Start programs.

Head Start Impact Study (CORE) This Congressionally-mandated, longitudinal study of the impact of Head Start will involve 5,000-6,000 three- and four-year-old children from a stratified, national sample of grantees/delegate agencies. Children in the study will be randomly assigned prior to enrollment to either a treatment group (which receives Head Start services) or a comparison group (which does not receive Head Start services). See also the Advisory Committee on Head Start Research and Evaluation.

NICHD, ASPE and Ford Foundation Study of Low-Income Fathers of Infants and Toddlers (CORE) This is a longitudinal study of fathers involving 10 of the 17 Early Head Start research sites. The study involved direct interviews with fathers when their child was 24 and 36 months old, a practitioner study on strategies EHS programs use to engage fathers, and local research on specific fatherhood issues of interest in their program partners and communities. Fathers are currently being interviewed when their child is in Kindergarten.

ECLS Birth Cohort Head Start Substudy This study will provide detailed information on children's development, health, early care, and education in a nationally representative sample of 12,000 children born in 2001 who will be followed longitudinally from birth through the end of first grade. Head Start is funding observations of parent-child interaction for all children, and in collaboration with the Child Care Bureau is funding an observational study of child care quality for a subset of children. Information on the ECLS study is available at http://www.nces.ed.gov/ecls/.

ECLS Kindergarten Cohort Head Start Substudy This longitudinal study is of approximately 23,000 children nationwide who began kindergarten in the fall of 1998 and will be assessed through the fifth grade. An estimated 3,000 will be former Head Start children. Information on the ECLS study is available at http://www.nces.ed.gov/ecls/.

Head Start Quality Research Consortium II (2001-2006) (CORE) This new consortium will develop and test specific program practices designed to promote school readiness of Head Start children in the areas of literacy, social-emotional development, parent involvement, curriculum, and assessment.

Head Start Quality Research Consortium I (1995-2000) (CORE) This consortium created ongoing partnerships among ACYF, Head Start Grantees, and the academic research community to enhance quality program practices and outcomes.

Head Start Mental Health Research Consortium (1997-2002 Head Start University Partnerships) (CORE) This research develops and tests applications of theory-based research or state-of-the-art techniques for the prevention, identification, and/or treatment of children's mental health concerns within a Head Start context.

Head Start University Partners (CORE) Discretionary funding supports research conducted by university faculty members who form partnerships with Head Start or Early Head Start programs in their communities.

Head Start Graduate Student Research Program (CORE) Discretionary funding supports research conducted by graduate students in university settings who form partnerships with Head Start or Early Head Start programs in their communities, as a way of encouraging the conduct of research with Head Start Populations.