
Introduction
Research Questions
- Why do Head Start families choose their child’s Head Start program?
- What are families’ experiences like in their Head Start program?
- Do families plan to return for a second year at their Head Start program? If not, what are the reasons they do not plan to return?
This research brief uses nationally representative data from the Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES 2019) to understand why Head Start families choose their child’s Head Start program, what their experiences are like in their program, and if they plan to return next year. The findings offer a glimpse of program characteristics that parents value and report as positive that Head Start programs can continue to emphasize to better serve children and families who participate.
Purpose
The purpose of this brief is to explore Head Start families’ early care and education (ECE) selection and experiences, including why they choose their child’s Head start program, in what activities they participate and how often, and if they are satisfied with their program experiences.
Key Findings and Highlights
- When deciding on a child care arrangement or early childhood program, parents’ top reason for choosing their Head Start program is to help their child get ready for kindergarten (cited by 91 percent of parents).
- Parents are very satisfied with an array of aspects related to their Head Start program. Importantly, more than 90 percent of Head Start parents report being satisfied with how their Head Start program has prepared their child to enter kindergarten, made them feel welcomed, and supported and respected their family’s culture and background.
- Head Start parents are also engaged in many program activities and report positive program experiences, with most parents agreeing that staff at their program are culturally responsive.
- Half of all Head Start parents (54 percent) expect their child to attend kindergarten next year. Thirty-nine percent plan to return to their Head Start program for a second year, and 6 percent plan to send their child to another preschool. Most of those who do not plan to return to Head Start are trying to find an ECE setting closer to home.
Methods
FACES provides information at the national level about Head Start programs, centers, and classrooms, and the children and families who participate. We selected a sample of Head Start programs from the 2017—2018 Head Start Program Information Report, with two centers per program and two classrooms per center. Within each classroom, we randomly selected 12 children for the study. In spring 2020, 365 classrooms and 2,132 children were still study participants. Survey data from parents are weighted to represent the population of Head Start children who were enrolled in Head Start in fall 2019 and were still enrolled in spring 2020.
Appendix
Appendix
File Type | File Name | File Size | Head Start Families’ Program Selection and Experiences: Technical Appendix | 1,161.13 KB |
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Citation
Reid, N., N. Aikens, A. Larson, L. Tarullo, J. Cannon, and L. Malone. “Head Start Families’ Program Selection and Experiences.” OPRE Report #2022-09. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, 2022.
Glossary
- FACES:
- Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey
- COVID-19, or coronavirus disease 19:
- An infectious disease that was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and a public health emergency by the U.S. in March 2020.