Other federal programs also provide some early childhood services. Both nonprofit and for-profit centers may be sponsored by church, community, and other organizations. Disadvantaged Children Need Full Range of Services to Prepare Them for School

As stated in chapter 1, the first national education goal articulates the fundamental elements—high-quality, developmentally appropriate preschool, (in this report, early childhood centers); parents who support their children’s learning; and adequate health care and nutrition—that are needed to prepare all children for school. Developmentally Appropriate, High-Quality Services Help Prepare Children for School

Child development services that are appropriate to the child’s age and individual level of development should promote relationships between the child and adults. Most Disadvantaged Children Do Not Receive Services From Early Childhood Centers That Prepare Them for School

Early childhood centers do not provide most disadvantaged children the full range of services—child development, parent, and health and nutrition—that they need to be prepared for school. Of the disadvantaged children who do attend centers, most attend centers less likely than Head Start centers to provide the full range of services. 3.2). Head Start centers provided more health services or referrals to these services than other kinds of centers. Information on the number of 3- and 4-year-old children enrolled in other federal and state-funded early childhood programs is limited.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed early childhood services for disadvantaged children, focusing on the: (1) services disadvantaged children need to prepare for school; (2) extent to which early childhood centers provide these services; and (3) reasons early childhood centers may not deliver all the needed services.

What GAO Found

GAO found that: (1) disadvantaged children need intellectual stimulation, parental support, and adequate health care and nutrition to prepare for school; (2) early childhood centers provide all the necessary services and also promote developmental activities suitable to a child's age and individual level of development; (3) most disadvantaged children do not receive a full range of services from early childhood centers because of the limited number of centers and subsidies and narrow program missions; (4) school-sponsored, nonprofit, and for-profit childhood centers are often less likely to provide a full range of services than Head Start centers; and (5) despite Head Start's full range of services, the quality of its services has been uneven.