Since its beginning in 1965 as a part of the War on Poverty, Head Start's goal has been to boost the school readiness of low-income children. Based on a 'whole child' model, the program provides comprehensive services that include pre-school education; medical, dental, and mental health care; nutrition services; and efforts to help parents foster their child's development. Head Start services are designed to be responsive to each child's and family's ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage. The Congressionally-mandated Head Start Impact Study was conducted across 84 nationally representative grantee/delegate agencies. Approximately 5,000 newly entering 3- and 4-year-old children applying for Head Start were randomly assigned to either a Head Start group that had access to Head Start program services or to a non- Head Start group that could enrol in available community non-Head Start services, selected by their parents. Data collection began in fall 2002 and is scheduled to continue through 2006, following children through the spring of their 1st-grade year. The study quantifies the impact of Head Start separately for 3- and 4-year-old children across child cognitive, social-emotional, and health domains as well as ii on parenting practices. This book is essential reading for those in the education field.

These hearing transcripts present testimony concerning the reauthorization of the Head Start Act given on June 9, 1998, before the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families. The testimony focused on the efficacy of specific programs and activities funded by the Head Start Act, successes and failures, and future needs and directions the program should follow. Presented is testimony by: (1) Florida Representative John Mica; (2) California Representative Loretta Sanchez; (3) the director of Education and Employment Issues of the General Accounting Office; (4) two academicians; (5) the assistant director of the National Center for Family Literacy; (6) the president of the National Fatherhood Initiative; (7) two directors of local Head Start programs; and (8) the president of a county board of education. (SD)