Beyond the Blueprint

On its 30th anniversary, public acceptance of Head Start is high, yet understanding of its goals is low, and evaluation research is limited in quality and scope. In this book, a roundtable of representatives from government, universities, medicine, and family support agencies identifies a set of research possibilities to generate a broader understanding of the effects of Head Start on families and children. Among the important issues discussed are the ethnic and linguistic diversity of Head Start families, the social conditions of the community context, and the implications of the changing economic landscape for both families and Head Start itself.

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Studying Head Start's Families: General Themes
• 3 Recognizing the Diversity of Children and Families in Head Start
• 4 Examining Community-Head Start Collaborations
• 5 Head Start Families in a Changing Economic Landscape
• 6 Extending the Benefits of Local Innovation
• References
• Appendix A: Excerpts from Two Advisory Committee Reports
• Appendix B: Workshop Agendas and Speakers
• Appendix C: Other Reports from the Board on Children, Youth, and Families
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