ED480820 PS031557
Title:Investing in Head Start Teachers. NIEER Preschool Policy Matters, Issue 4.
Pages: 5
Publication Date: August 2003
Notes: Produced by Rutgers National Institute for Early Education Research.
Sponsoring Agency: Pew Charitable Trusts, Philadelphia, PA. (BBB28123)
Available from: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
Availability: National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), Rutgers, The State University, 120 Albany Street, Suite 500, New
Brunswick, NJ 08901. Tel: 732-932-4350; Fax: 732-932-4360; e-mail: info@nieer.org; Web site: http://nieer.org. For full text: http://
nieer.org/resources/policybriefs/4.pdf.
Language: English
Document Type: Opinion papers (120); Reports--Descriptive (141)
Geographic Source: U.S.; New Jersey
Journal Announcement: RIEMAY2004
Target Audience: Policymakers
Research shows that preschool produces the strongest effects when teachers are well qualified. Noting that most Head Start preschool teachers do not hold even the minimum teaching degrees required to teach kindergarten, this policy brief looks at the costs of putting highly qualified teachers in Head Start classrooms to improve the effectiveness of the program. The brief notes the salary/wage differential between Head Start teachers and public school kindergarten teachers, and highlights issues in raising Head Start teacher qualifications, including gradual salary increases, and assistance for Head Start teachers wishing to attend college. The brief projects that the cost to put a well-qualified teacher in every Head Start classroom, phased in over an 8-year period, would range from $177 million in the first year to $1.4 billion in year eight, representing less than 1/1000th of the federal budget. (HTH)
Descriptors: *Compensation (Remuneration); Cost Estimates; Early Childhood Education; *Preschool Teachers; *Program Improvement; Salary
Wage Differentials; Teacher Improvement; *Teacher Qualifications
Identifiers: *Project Head Start
