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