Head Start Improves Achievement and Reduces Crime

This article supports that quality pre-kindergarten and child care programs have produced dramatic, long-term impacts on the lives of children from disadvantaged families. The article states that these programs increase high school graduation rates and decreasing crime and Head Start is one of the programs that produce results in these areas. The articles also states that research using a national, random sampling of 3200 children enrolled in Head Start shows that the program significantly raises the vocabulary and early writing and math scores of lower performing children. Research also showed that Head Start students reached higher levels of schooling than their siblings who attended other preschools. They also found lower crime rates among Head Start graduates. Dr. Steven Barnett states that studies that gave rise to the “fade out myth” are badly flawed. that Head Start has long term academic effects that do not fade out over time. That the studies compared achievement test scores of children who had formerly attended Head Start to those who had not, failed to obtain scores for the children who had been placed in special education or retained a grade. These lower performing students were more likely to have been in the non-Head Start group. Without their test results the scores are inaccurate and artificially inflated. The article also states that Head Start has been proven effective in treating children at risk for later behavioral difficulties. The article also talks about to achieve lasting impacts and good return on investments, pre-kindergarten programs like Head Start must provide quality service. The education level of teacher is a key factor in determining this quality. Also the curriculum content plays a role in this success. It supports that the teacher/child learning model is the most effective. In this model teachers and children initiate social, physical and academic activities. The article concludes by saying that Head Start produces lasting benefits for vulnerable children but the full potential of Head Start can’t be met without more funding.

It’s Time to Stop Head Start

The article states that President Lyndon Johnson told audiences, “Children are inheritors of poverty’s curse and not its creators. We set out to make certain that poverty’s children would not be forevermore poverty’s captives.” According the article its goal was to stop poverty. The article states that clearly Head Start has not stopped poverty in tracks. Also, that Head Starts new goal is to increase school readiness goals in low income children, yet studies have shown that Head Start has not been able to meet even this boiled down expectation. The article also states that in the long run Head Start students don’t remain superior to those of disadvantaged children who didn’t attend Head Start. The article states that Head Start was a false start and the net gain to children was zero. The article also argues that if students test the same with or without Head Start after a year or two, what’s the point of sending them through the program. They have conclusive finding that early intervention programs can boost children’s test scores, but those gains wash out within a few years of exiting the programs. The article also argues that preschool doesn’t reduce school failure, lower dropout rates, increase test scores, or produce a generation of more competent high school graduates. The article states that a child’s academic and personal growth turn on a lot more than preschool experiences. Family, natural abilities, neighborhood, and life experiences easily outweigh the influence of preschool. The article argues that after years without success, it time politicians reconsider the wisdom of Head Start.