Second Year in Head Start: Characteristics and Outcomes of Children Who Entered the Program at Age Three. ACF/OPRE Report

摘要

This brief profiles the second year in the program for 3-year-old Head Start children and families who were newly enrolled in fall 2006 and are still attending in spring 2008. FACES selects two groups of first time enrollees-those entering at age 4 and those entering at age 3-who are expected to attend Head Start for one or two years, respectively, prior to kindergarten entry. The 3-year-old group is of particular interest for several reasons: (1) as the Head Start Program Information Report (PIR) shows, 3-year-olds occupy a growing share of the total population served by Head Start, increasing from 24 percent in 1980 to 40 percent in 2007 (ACF 2010); (2) they may differ in important characteristics from children who enter at age 4 in terms of developmental level and exposure to prior child care experiences; and (3) they have the potential to continue in Head Start for two program years or to leave for another prekindergarten experience.