Head Start Serves Both Children and Families

Head Start programs were funded to serve about 701,000 children at any one time in program year 1996-97; however, the number of different children enrolled in the program throughout the 1996-97 program year was about 782,000, which averaged about 454 children per program, ranging from a low of 17 to a high of 6,045. 1). Most of the children—79 percent—spoke English as their main language. 2). 3). Children and Families Received Access to an Array of Services

Through Head Start, children received access to a large array of services. Services for Children Provided in Primarily Part-Day, Part-Year Programs

Most children attended centers that operated part day and part year. 4). About 44 percent of the families needing full-day, full-year child care services left their children at a relative’s or unrelated adult’s home when the children were not in Head Start, according to Head Start’s survey. 7). Most programs— about 90 percent—had multiple sources. 8). Across most states and territories, the non-Head Start funding increased the amount available per child (see table II.5 in app. Across all programs, the median amount of Head Start grant funds per child was $4,450 for the responding programs but ranged from a low of $792 to a high of $16,206. Median total funds per child of $4,932 across all programs ranged from $1,081 to $17,029 per child. The director told us that the program provided service for children in centers that operated year round and for 10 hours or more per day. In addition, programs spent their funds on a range of services. Other Programs Serving Head Start-Eligible Children Operated in Same Communities as Head Start Programs

Many Head Start programs reported that state-funded preschools (70 percent), other preschools, child development and child care centers (90 percent), and family day care homes (71 percent) operated in their communities serving Head Start-eligible children. The extent to which these programs resemble Head Start is not known. However, programs that serve disadvantaged children may—like Head Start—help children and families obtain additional services such as medical and social services. These programs provided many of the same services as Head Start programs, but not all services were provided to all children. Major contributors to this report are listed in appendix V.

Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

	Objectives

In preparation for Head Start’s reauthorization, the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member, House Committee on Education and the Workforce; the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families, House Committee on Education and the Workforce; Chairman and Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Children and Families, Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources; and Representatives Cunningham and Kildee asked us to describe the (1) number and characteristics of Head Start participants, (2) services provided and the way they are provided, (3) federal and nonfederal program dollars received and spent by programs delivering Head Start services, and (4) other programs providing similar—in part or in whole—early childhood services.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Head Start Program in preparation for its reauthorization, focusing on: (1) the number and characteristics of those served; (2) the services provided and the way they are provided; (3) federal and nonfederal program dollars received and spent by programs delivering Head Start services; and (4) other programs providing similar early childhood services.

What GAO Found

GAO noted that: (1) Head Start served about 782,000 disadvantaged children and 711,000 families in program year 1996-97, according to GAO's review; (2) the demographics of these children and families were similar in many respects; (3) most children were 4 years old and spoke English as their main language; (4) families typically had more than one child and were very poor; (5) through Head Start, children received access to a large array of services, as did their families in some cases; (6) most child and family services, however, were neither paid for nor provided directly by Head Start programs; (7) instead, Head Start programs often functioned as a coordinator or facilitator, referring and linking children and families to needed services; (8) although many families required full-day, full-year child care, Head Start services were typically provided in centers that operated part day on schedules that paralleled the school year; (9) only a small percentage of children attended programs in centers that operated year round; (10) virtually no programs operated on weekends, and only a few operated before 7 a.m. or after 5 p.m.; (11) almost half of the families identified as needing full-day services left their children at a relative's or unrelated adult's home when the children were not in Head Start; (12) most programs responding to GAO's survey secured funding for their operations from multiple sources; (13) among all programs in the states and territories, the average amount of Head Start grant funds per child was $4,637, ranging from a low of $792 to high of $16,206; (14) the additional income programs received from other sources increased the amount of funds available per child to an average of $5,186, 12 percent more income per child; (15) total funds per child varied widely by program, ranging from $1,081 to $17,029 per child; (16) programs spent their income on a variety of services and activities; however, the largest promotion of programs' overall income was spent on education services; (17) most Head Start programs reported that state-funded preschools, other preschools, child development centers and child care centers, and family day care homes operated in the same communities as Head Start programs; and (18) although GAO's review did not determine the extent to which these programs resemble Head Start, some that serve disadvantaged children sometimes help children and families obtain additional services, such as medical services, as Head Start does.