A longitudinal investigation of preschoolers' Head Start experience and subsequent school readiness.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This research investigated program differences within Head Start, specifically, one versus two years of Head Start and teacher/classroom quality. Program participants were 81 children who attended Head Start for two years and 85 wait-listed children who received the program for one year due to space limitations. Participants were assessed in the fall and spring for each year of enrollment in Head Start. Results indicated that children who attended Head Start for two years were significantly more school ready upon program completion than those who received the program for one year after controlling for differential rates of attendance and pretest scores as well as prior preschool attendance. Additionally, children who had teachers with higher education levels were more ready for school. Finally, profiles of preschoolers indicated three significantly different levels of school readiness upon exit from Head Start with lower-risk children who attended the program for two years being the most school ready and higher-risk children who received the program for one year being the least prepared to enter school. Policy implications of these findings were discussed.