IMPACTS OF THE DURATION OF HEAD START ENROLLMENT ON CHILDREN'S ACADEMIC OUTCOMES: MODERATION EFFECTS OF FAMILY RISK FACTORS AND EARLIER OUTCOMES

摘要

This study examined effects of the duration of Head Start enrollment on children's academic outcomes. Study questions are as follows: (a) Do Head Start children's baseline characteristics differ among those who entered at age 3 and enrolled in Head Start for 1 year, those who entered at age 4 and stayed for 1 year, and those who entered at age 3 and stayed for 2 years? (b) Do children's academic scores differ among the three groups? (c) Do these effects differ depending on the number of family risk factors and on children's scores at the beginning of the year? Findings indicate that children who entered Head Start at age 3 and stayed for 2 years showed higher academic outcomes than those enrolled later or for less time. Benefits were greater among children with more family risk factors and among those whose academic scores at the beginning of the study year were lower.