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Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project
United States. Administration for Children and Families,
Education Resources Information Center

This project involves both a cross-site national study and local longitudinal studies of low-income families with young children in Early Head Start sites in 17 communities in the United States. The project was funded in two waves: Birth to Three (1996-2001) and Pre-Kindergarten Follow-Up (2001-2004). The five major components of the project are: an implementation study, an impact evaluation, local research studies, policy studies, and efforts toward continuous program improvement. The implementation study assessed the level and quality of implementation of EHS at each site, as well as variations across sites, with regard to five program areas: child development and health care; family partnerships; community involvement and partnerships; staff development; and program management. Results include a profile of each of the 17 research programs, their services and expected outcomes. The information gathered was critical for the development of the impact evaluation analyses and the identification of pathways to full implementation. The impact evaluation followed a random assignment, longitudinal design to examine how child, parent and family outcomes were influenced by EHS programs, as well as by variations in program approaches and community contexts, program implementation and services, and the characteristics of children and their families. The third component involves 16 local research projects conducted by 15 university-based researchers who partnered with Early Head Start research programs. Designed to investigate the unique outcomes and program functions of each Early Head Start program, these longitudinal studies continue through the second phase of the project, Pre-Kindergarten Follow-up (2001-2004). The policy studies component focuses on issues related to welfare reform, health and disabilities, child-care and fatherhood. The component of continuous program improvement consists of reports and presentations disseminating new information that can help all Early Head Start programs to increase their ability to meet the needs of families.

Major Research Projects

Efforts to meet children's physical activity and nutritional needs: Findings from the I Am Moving, I Am Learning implementation evaluation: Final Report [Executive summary]
United States. Administration for Children and Families. Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, February 2010
Washington, DC: U.S. Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation.

A summary of findings from the implementation of I Am Moving, I Am Learning (IM/IL), a Head Start program enhancement intended to increase the amount of time devoted to moderate to vigorous physical activity, improve the quality of structured movement activities, and promote healthy food choices, based on interviews with program administrators of 56 Head Start programs that implemented IM/IL to supplement their curricula

Executive Summary

Results from the "I Am Moving, I Am Learning" stage 1 survey: Final interim report
United States. Administration for Children and Families. Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, October 25, 2007
Washington, DC: U.S. Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation.

A study of the implementation of I Am Moving, I Am Learning (IM/IL), a Head Start program enhancement intended to increase the amount of time devoted to moderate to vigorous physical activity, improve the quality of stuctured movement activities, and promote healthy food choices, based on a survey of staff members who had been trained to implement IM/IL in their Head Start program

Reports & Papers