RESEARCH & EVALUATION

Research and Evaluation

NHSA maintains close relationships with leading independent researchers in the field of early childhood education and helps disseminate their findings. In addition to resources found on this site, NHSA shares findings with the Head Start community through articles in NHSA Dialog (formerly the NHSA Research Quarterly), NHSA’s magazine Children and Families, sessions at NHSA conferences, and other speaking engagements.Please refer to the above links for more information on NHSA’s research activities. To request research not found on this site, please contact NHSA’s Research and Evaluation department at (703) 739-0875.

Research Announcements

Head Start, Early Head Start, and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Congressional District Data Released: On January 3, 2008, NHSA released data from the Head Start Program Information Report for the 2006-2007 Program Year showing the number of programs, enrollment, and staffing by congressional district.

Fiscal Year 2008 Projection Released: On November 30, 2007, NHSA released a projection showing how a $77 million cut in Fiscal Year 2008 funding for Head Start programs in a possible funding compromise between President Bush and the U.S. Congress would be equivalent to closing Head Start enrollment to 14,834 children and pregnant women in Fiscal Year 2008.

The Program Committee for Head Start’s Ninth National Research Conference has released its Call for Presentations. Head Start’s Ninth National Research Conference is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and will be held June 23-25, 2008.

Research and Assessment Update 2007: On October 3, 2007, NHSA’s Research and Evaluation Department provided a research and assessment update at NHSA’s October 2007 Leadership Institute.

Fiscal Year 2007 Budget Special Report Released: On February 7, 2007, the NHSA released a special report showing how the steady erosion of funding threatens the quality of Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Fiscal Year 2007 Budget Special Report Released: On February 7, 2006, the NHSA released a special report estimating how flat funding the Head Start and Early Head Start programs in fiscal year 2007 would result in the equivalent of closing enrollment to at least 19,000 in fiscal year 2007. This report includes a state-by-state enrollment analysis.

Florida Child Outcomes Data Exceed Expectations: On December 14, 2005, the Florida Head Start Association Research Committee released data demonstrating that the children in Florida Head Start programs performed significantly better than expected during the 2004-2005 school year.

Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Cut Special Report Released: On October 27, 2005, the NHSA released a special report estimating how a 2 percent ($82 million) cut to Head Start and Early Head Start programs in fiscal year 2006 would result in cuts to enrollment of at least 35,000 Head Start and Early Head Start children. This includes a state-by-state enrollment analysis.

Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Cut Special Report Released: On February 18, 2005, the NHSA released a special report estimating how the Bush administration's fiscal year 2006 budget proposal will result in cuts to enrollment of at least 25,000 Head Start and Early Head Start children. This includes a state-by-state enrollment analysis.

Fiscal Years 2003-2005 Budget Cut Special Report Released: On March 24, 2004, the NHSA released a special report revealing that overstretched budgets currently plague Head Start programs.

NHSA Criticizes a Brookings Institution Policy Brief on Head Start: On September 2, 2003, the president of NHSA, criticized Policy Brief Welfare Reform & Beyond #27 entitled, “The Future of Head Start,” authored by Brookings Institution researchers. Greene recommended that federal policymakers continue Head Start as a federal-to-local program, provide the funding necessary to enroll all eligible children and families, improve coordination with state and federal programs, and increase the technical training and assistance set-aside to ensure quality and to increase school readiness.

Researchers Oppose Blocking Granting Head Start: On July 9, 2003, leading researchers petitioned Congress in opposition to a proposal by the Bush administration and a bill from the House Committee on Education and the Workforce that would block grant Head Start to a number of states.

Researchers Testify Before Congress: On January 29, 2003, leading researchers testified before Congress on poverty in America and on the effectiveness of Head Start. Read their testimonies and key documents.