Benefits6

National Family and Child Experience Survey Results

Head Start graduates, by the spring of their kindergarten year, were essentially at national norms in early reading and early writing and were close to meeting national norms in early math and vocabulary language
By the spring of their kindergarten year, Head Start graduates’ reading assessment scores reached national norms, and their general knowledge assessment scores were close to national norms

The Head Start Impact Survey Results

small to moderate statistically significant positive impacts for 3-and 4-year-old children enrolled in Head Start on pre-reading, pre-writing, vocabulary, and parent reports of children’s literacy skills
a higher proportion of Head Start parents read to their children more frequently than those parents of children who were not enrolled in Head Start

Additional Studies

Head Start children experience increased achievement test scores and that Head Start children experience favorable long-term effects on grade repetition, special education and graduation rates

Head Start improves the health of the children and the families they serve

Recent research reports that the mortality rates for 5- to 9-year-old children who had attended Head Start are 33 to 50 percent lower than the rates for comparable children who were not enrolled in Head Start
In addtion, Head Start reduced the rates to the national average of mortality rates for all 5- to 9-year-old children
Head Start provides health and dental services to children and families who might otherwise not have them
Parents who participate in Head Start are found to have greater quality of life satisfaction; increased confidence in coping skills; and decreased feelings of anxiety, depression and sickness
Research suggests that Head Start reduces childhood obesity
Head Start children are at least eight percentage points more likely to have had their immunizations than those children who did not attend preschool

The Head Start Impact Survey Results

A much higher proportion of Head Start children received dental care than those children who did not receive Head Start services
A higher proportion of parents with 3-year-old children in Head Start reported that their child was either in excellent or very good health as compared with those parents who did not have children enrolled in Head Start
Head Start reduces the frequency and severity of problem behavior as reported by their parents

Head Start Preschool Program