Talk:Head Start (program)

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This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 18 January 2021 and 14 May 2021. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): BeckMarin. Peer reviewers: Jeslyndv, Yaydnew.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 23:10, 16 January 2022 (UTC)

Bronfenbrenner
I've read in multiple articles that Urie Bronfenbrenner was the co-founder of Head Start, yet he's not mentioned anywhere in the article. I don't usually contribute or make comments but I'm wondering if I am missing something here. (174.62.204.63 (talk) 23:56, 23 February 2011 (UTC))And where is the credit for Mary Hellen Peterson migrating the program down south?

Effectiveness
The Effectiveness section of this article was hopelessly one-sided, and discussed largely pre-K services rather than Head Start services, which is what the article is supposed to be about. I deleted the section, pending the creation of a more balanced review of the massive literature surrounding Head Start's effectiveness. -- pbfrank@gmail.com

Not only is it one-sided, but the quotes from their favored sources are very selective. In fact some of the studies conclude the opposite of what we are led to believe in this article. - huangdi

I agree. The citations were one-sided and uninformative. The section lists perceived shortcomings but fails to discuss other factors that may cause them. Wordbuilder 23:27, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

After reading through the Administrative History at the LBJ Library it becomes clear that Head Start is effective. There is a stipulation of course. The environment of Head Start needs to be followed through into grade school. A study by Wolffe and Stein (funded by the Office of Economic Opportunity) states that "test scores are uniformly lower for Head Start pupils in classes in which the teaching was poor and that, conversely, Head Start pupils scored consistently higher than their classmates in groups with good teachers." This makes sense. The child must not be thrown into a dilapidated school once he reaches the first grade. The uninteresting and unmotivating environment would make it difficult to learn for any child. Source from: Administrative History of the Office of Economic Opportunity, Vol. I, p.252, Box 1, LBJ Library. --paulellul@gmail.com
 * I agree with the above observations, and I have tagged a POV for this article, as it still contains the bias at the time of the tag, and the categorizations do not address the above suggestions and observations. I hope the the contributor immediately above edits the article--I am unqualified to do so.  Kemet 14:30, 21 July 2006 (UTC)


 * Anybody have the cite for Wolffe and Stein? I'd be happy to add it.  That's not actually Maryanne Wolfe at Tufts, is it? I thought something was forthcoming on Head Start from the Tufts Child Development program? Also, anybody have something more for Freakanomics?  I'd suggest limiting this section to specific studies, and saying a popular book is critical of the program really doesn't add anything useful (how, why and based on what data are, I think, the right questions). Sam 14:46, 21 July 2006 (UTC)


 * Freakonomics doesn't have a lot to say about Head Start. I edited that section to address their main point.  I left out some unsourced theorizing about how uneducated teachers may be to blame for Head Start's poor long-term effects, because Head Start teaching positions are low-paid and unlikely to attract highly qualified candidates. PubliusFL 17:24, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

I have tried to address the bias by categorizing what other people have done (con-, mixed, and pro-) and adding in summary the first year Impact Report. Perhaps others can add studies on all sides and any responses people may want to have to the big congressional study. I know there is also at least one other big study pending. Sam 02:29, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

Another thought that might be good to put in here is an overview of the other mandated services that are required for Head Start grantees. The reason I mention it is because people frequently analyze whether Head Start is worth the money that is put into it, and the focus is (nearly) always on whether the children are advancing academically vs their peers as indicated by standardized testing. Other measures are also worth considering (or at least mentioning) such as the primary caregiver's employment rate, or the physical and dental health of HS children vs. non-HS children. From what I can tell, even if there is no advantage academically to having your child attend head start, there are myriad other reasons the program is worthwhile. As a disclosure, I should mention that I work in Head Start...in case you hadn't figured that out already. --Mjlissner 16:31, 21 June 2007 (UTC)

No reference is included for the Datta and Lee articles cited in supportive studies.

In "Reports and statements critical of Head Start," an editorial (Besharov and Call) is cited as the source for the a summary of research, although the editorial doesn't provide any references for primary sources. Is that an appropriate citation?--- —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.214.45.97 (talk) 09:39, 15 October 2010 (UTC)

There is no refutation of '8.3 Head Start "fade"' and specifically nothing cited since 2012. An example: https://blogs.berkeley.edu/2016/09/02/does-head-start-work-a-new-look-at-the-data/ The HSIS is no longer considered unassailable and the article should indicate that. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.6.50.107 (talk) 06:27, 31 December 2018 (UTC)

External link
I reverted this edit because the editor is the co-Executive Director at the non-profit the link pointed to. This doesn't mean the link isn't appropriate, just that it needs the eyes of regular editors of this article to look at it and decide if the link should be included. --Siobhan Hansa 10:20, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

History Section
The history section of this article seems to credit Lyndon Johnson with the creation of Head Start, when in fact it was poor Americans like Fannie Lou Hamer that conceived it and worked tirelessly for its inception.

Racism?
I have an extremely liberal/socialist former friend who claims Head Start is racist because it forces Hispanic and black children to adopt "white" culture? Is this just him being insane or has this been documented?Electricbassguy (talk) 01:40, 29 September 2008 (UTC)


 * My child attends Head Start, he has been a student for 1 1/2 years. There are 6 children in his class and two teachers. He is the only white child that has ever been there in nearly two years. Several children has left and been replaced, but only with hispanic or African american ethics.  His teacher is also afican american. She lives in a primarily white neighborhood.  My son is 3, he realizes he is different, but i think this is good for him in some ways, in other ways, it has caused him to feel "left out".  you ask is head start racist? I dont think so, I dont think they adopt to primarily white culture-thats insane.  Also, the head start headquarters i have to report to:  Everyone there is either African american or "hispanic"  I have never seen a white person there-  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.16.91.229 (talk) 16:35, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

The fact that it is hard for white children to be included is racist! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.168.181.58 (talk) 15:13, 14 December 2014 (UTC)


 * That's strange. It's far from racist. Race is totally unrelated to Head Start in any way shape or form o.o --209.181.16.93 (talk) 21:40, 12 October 2009 (UTC)

This sounds like a perspective from "critical theory" or "critical race theory" -- I did a brief literature search and didn't find any articles directly for the search terms "critical theory" and "head start." However, such a suggestion is valid, if the context of critical theory. Although, "racism" is not the correct term, I believe. Critical theory: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_theory Critical race thoery: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_race_theory — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.114.19.246 (talk) 19:56, 9 December 2013 (UTC)

Obama??
How is this an Obama related article? --209.181.16.93 (talk) 21:41, 12 October 2009 (UTC)
 * seconded. Did I miss something? mjlissner (talk) 01:45, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
 * I cant find any reference to obama doing anything about head start unless you want to say every education article is obama related because the only thing i can find is provide more money to all education--209.181.16.93 (talk) 22:23, 15 October 2009 (UTC)
 * I concur that the Obama connection is very tenuous but its inclusion is not doing any harm and I'm not inclined to remove it. Dwight Burdette 13:27, 5 June 2010 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Deedeebee (talk • contribs)


 * An editor comment with the Obama Project template said HS is part of the Obama Change Agenda. Well, this is hardly a justification as the agenda has some 120+ items listed. Is HS something particular to Obama as opposed to other presidents (or their articles)? Or has special emphasis been given to HS by Obama? Did a Project Member ever come in and assess this article? No, no, and no. Accordingly, I'm deleting the Obama Project banner. --S. Rich (talk) 18:58, 24 July 2012 (UTC)

Eligibility vs. funding
How many children are eligible based on family income vs. actually enroll? How does demand compare to supply? (This has become an issue recently with sequestration cuts.) -- Beland (talk) 17:18, 30 July 2013 (UTC)
 * Nation wide it was 57,000 children less enrolled. In Rhode Island, that translated into 450 children out of 2800 lost their spot. In RI with a million inhabitants about 13% live below the poverty line, so that is 130,000 individuals. If we assume that the 2800 head start kids each represent a household out of those 130,000 that would be about 2%. But given that there are households with two or more children enrolled it is more likely only 1% of poor households in Rhode Islands that had children enrolled in Headstart before the sequester, now it is a little less than that.User:Maunus ·ʍaunus·snunɐw· 20:59, 22 October 2014 (UTC)

Sargent Shriver
I read this Wikipedia article after reading Scott Stossel's well researched biography of Sargent Shriver ("Sarge") and, in particular, the chapter therein on the history of the inception of Head Start. Shriver's vision and crucial role in this history is almost completely missing in the Wikipedia article. I must assume that the entire Wikipedia article is woefully lacking in balance at best or terribly inaccurate at worst.

Scott Stossel. Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver. 2004. Smithsonian Books, Washington.

108.28.9.63 (talk) 14:32, 29 December 2014 (UTC)

External links modified
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 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20081012013719/http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs/legislation/HS_act.html to http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs/legislation/HS_act.html
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"Tiny Tots" "Pre-School"

 * search "Tiny Tots" California "Department of Education"
 * https://www.ci.colton.ca.us/138/Preschool-Programs
 * https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/DocumentCenter/View/75660
 * https://www.greatschools.org/california/gilroy/32223-Gilroy-Special-Ed-Preschool/
 * Office of Child Protection (OCP) Submission of Early Care and Education Landscape Analysis (12-04-19)
 * https://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/352/Pre-School
 * https://fremont.gov/2204/Meet-Our-Teachers
 * https://cityofpetaluma.org/teacher-bios/
 * https://www.first5yuba.org/uploads/2/9/4/6/29467203/2015_-_16_f5y_evaluation_report.pdf
 * https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/51_fully_executed_contract_lil_people.pdf
 * https://www.cityofsalinas.org/our-city-services/recreation-community-services/programs/tot-programs
 * https://campbellca.gov/Directory.aspx%3FDID%3D22
 * https://parks.lacounty.gov/kids-family/
 * https://patch.com/california/diamondbar-walnut/diamond-bar-accepting-applications-to-tiny-tots-program
 * https://sfbos.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx%3Fdocumentid%3D37209
 * http://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/nutritionSvs/San_Francisco_Physical_Activity_Directory.pdf
 * https://sfcontroller.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Budget/FY18-19%2520and%2520FY19-20%2520MFS%2520FINAL.pdf
 * http://tjpa.org/uploads/2017/09/Item9_Park-Rules.pdf
 * https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/33641
 * https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1794/6577/Robertson_2008_Project.pdf
 * .... 0mtwb9gd5wx (talk) 10:46, 29 April 2021 (UTC)

Tri-Counties Regional Center
What's with the multiple bullet points about the "Tri-Counties Regional Center" in the Services and Programs section? It seems out of place to suddenly talk about the services offered by one facility, especially since that facility seems to be operating under a California program called Early Start, which is not the same thing as Head Start. (The points are also copied word for word from the website and not paraphrased.) I'm going to delete this reference. Ztrem (talk) 14:33, 23 June 2024 (UTC)