ED444730 PS028816
Title: Into Adulthood: A Study of the Effects of Head Start.
Author(s): Oden, Sherri; Schweinhart, Lawrence J.; Weikart, David P.
Author Affiliation: High/Scope Educational Research Foundation, Ypsilanti,
MI.(BBB04423)
Pages: 243
Publication Date: 2000
Notes: "With Sue M. Marcus and Yu Xie. Commentaries by Suzanne
M. Randolph, Mary Lou de Leon Siantz, Sheldon H. White, Edward Zigler,
and Sally J. Styfco."
ISBN: 1-57379-089-3
Available from: EDRS Price MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from
EDRS.
Availability: High/Scope Press, 600 North River Street, Ypsilanti,
MI 48198-2898; Tel: 800-407-7377 (Toll Free); Fax: 800-442-4329 (Toll
Free); e-mail: press@highscope.org; Web site: http://www.highscope.org.
Language: English
Document Type: Reports--Evaluative (142)
Geographic Source: U.S.; Michigan
Journal Announcement: RIEFEB2001
This report
describes the Long-Term Benefits of Head Start (LTBHS) study designed
to address questions regarding the long-term effects of the Head
Start program on the children and families served. Following the
introduction, Chapter 2 presents a review of the research on Head
Start, focusing on Head Start Planned Variation research, major
integrative reviews demonstrating improved school readiness of Head
Start children and the elementary school fade-out effect, and reviews
of non-Head Start demonstration models. Chapter 3 describes the
LTBHS study's methodology and design, including the makeup of the
diverse sample of 622 young adults who participated in Head Start
in 1970-71; presents the strategies used to identify and locate
study subjects for follow-up; and concludes with an overview of
the participant interviews and data collected from school, public
assistance, and criminal records. Chapter 4 explains how High/Scope
researchers arrived at the LTBHS study's core variables. Chapter
5 summarizes findings on individual characteristics and family background.
Chapter 6 summarizes how Head Start children, compared with non-Head
Start children, fared into their young adult years. Chapter 7 summarizes
the LTBHS study findings and discusses implications for future Head
Start development and research. Findings indicated that some groups
of study participants were better off as a result of their Head
Start participation. Findings also indicated potential benefits
for the Model (High/Scope) Head Start group versus the regular Head
Start group. Although most findings were not of the expected magnitude
or statistical significance, the pattern of findings across most
of the educational and life-situational outcome variables had the
same direction as the pattern of significant findings obtained in
the High/Scope Perry Preschool study and the High/Scope Preschool
Curriculum Comparison study. The report's six appendices include
resources in locating study participants, definitions for the study's
core variables, additional data tables, and additional findings.
Four commentaries on Head Start and the LTBHS study conclude the
report. (Contains 121 references.) (KB)
Descriptors: Comparative Analysis; Criminals; Early Experience;
Early Parenthood; Economic Status; Educational Attainment; Employment;
Followup Studies; Grade Point Average; Longitudinal Studies; *Outcomes
of Education; *Preschool Education; *Preschool Evaluation; Program
Effectiveness; Special Education; Welfare Services; *Young Adults
Identifiers: High Scope Preschool Curriculum Study; *Project Head
Start
