Head Start, the largest federally funded program for preschool children, is at a pivotal point in its history. Publicly funded preschool programs continue to gather steam as an important – we would argue critical – component of efforts to improve children’s success in school and life. But Head Start’s role in this effort will depend on how the program adapts and aligns with new research on what constitutes the most enriching learning environment for young children. It is impossible to answer those questions without a better understanding of how Head Start has evolved and how it compares and interoperates with current state-funded pre-K programs today.

 

That is the mission of this blog series – a package of seven articles and an online web chat hosted in partnership with Politico in September 2009.  Please realize that we consider this series as a beginning, not an end.  We hope this will open up new dialogue about Head Start that can help educators, parents and policymakers as they seek ideas for crafting well-designed education programs aimed at children’s earliest years.