ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Most acknowledgments in program evaluation reports conclude with something like a “last but not least” thanks to the programs. In this case, we acknowledge first and foremost the tremendous cooperation we received from all program directors and staff in working with us to plan and carry out two intensive site visits, respond to numerous requests for information, and review drafts of our program profiles and other products. We are grateful for their patience in explaining their programs to outsiders, their concerted attention to fleshing out their theories of change, and their willingness to open their programs and communities to us. We also owe a real debt to the many Early Head Start families who put up with our tagging along on home visits, allowed us to observe group gatherings, and actively contributed to focus group discussions. The programs’ community partners generously interrupted their schedules to explain nuances of their communities and their roles in Early Head Start.

This work could not have been accomplished without the contributions of the Early Head Start Research Consortium and many others. The 15 local research teams facilitated the completion of our implementation study work by accompanying us on site visits, providing feedback on our draft plans, and contributing invaluable information on the local context of the programs they work with. Site visitors collected detailed information about the programs’ implementation and produced in­depth profiles and checklists after each round of visits. The implementation and quality rating panel carefully reviewed all of the detailed information and met to assign consensus ratings to programs. We especially appreciate the care with which a number of individuals, identified below, reviewed earlier drafts of the checklists and this report and provided helpful suggestions. We are also grateful for the programming, data processing, production, and editorial contributions of a number of our Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR) colleagues.