Head Start and Even Start: Greater Collaboration Needed on Measures of Adult Education and Literacy.

摘要

The Head Start and Even Start Family Literacy programs have for many years provided services intended to improve the educational and economic outcomes for millions of disadvantaged children and their families. Although the programs differ substantially in size--in fiscal year 2002, Head Start funding is over $6 billion while Even Start is $250 million--our earlier work highlighted some similarities between these two programs, which are administered by different federal agencies. We have raised concerns that if such programs are designed to achieve similar outcomes for similar populations, but do not work together to address the needs of these targeted groups, then inefficiencies in administration and service delivery may result. Moreover, questions have arisen about the wisdom of having similar early childhood programs administered by different departments. Recently, President Bush, as part of his emphasis on child literacy and school readiness, has proposed transferring Head Start from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the Department of Education (Education).