- Published: January 11, 2022
- Updated: January 11, 2022
- University / College: University of Sussex
- Level: Secondary School
- Language: English
- Downloads: 16
Head Start Early Education Program s A social policy refers to guidelines, activities, and principles which influence the living conditions of human (Cheyne, OBrien, & Belgrave, 2005). One such social policy is the Head Start Education Program. Dean (2006) asserts that the Head Start Early Education Program deals with the provision of early childhood education, nutrition, and parent involvement services to children as well as families with low income. It was created by Jule Sugarman in 1965.
Head Start Education Program has both short-term and long term goals. In this regard, Garces, Thomas, and Currie (2002) examine the long-term effects of the Head Start Education program. Educational development is both a short-and long-term goal. As noted by Sciarra et al. (2015), the program serves the at-risk preschool-age children. To ensure its continuity, funds are provided by the federal government through the U. S Department of Health and Human Services.
The transition from preschool to elementary school results in varied changes in the development of the child such as the need for children to engage successfully with their peers outside the home and adjust the space and requirements of the classroom. To that effect, the McWayne et al (2012) discuss how the Head Start Early Education Program is designed to develop strong family relationships, improve the children’s educational performance, and design an environment to develop strong cognitive skills.
Deming (2009) asserts that the Head Start Educational program is among the longest-running programs in America that attempt to address systematic poverty and improve educational performance. It is equally important to note that the ABCD Head Start program is at the forefront of cutting-edge work in early education. The program helps the children develop their brain (Action for Boston Community Development, 2015).
Lee (2011) illustrates the effect of the duration of Head Start enrollment on the academic outcomes of children. The study reported that the program improved performance. Furthermore, the article by Besharov and Call (2009) critique the program outlining its weaknesses. The article provided crucial information on elements of the policy that require reform.
References
Action for Boston Community Development. (2015). Head Start & Early Childhood Education. Retrieved May 16, 2015, from http://bostonabcd. org/head-start-early-childhood-education. aspx
Besharov, D., & Call, D. (2009). Head Start Falls Further Behind. College Park, MD: The New York Times.
Cheyne, C., OBrien, M., & Belgrave, M. (2005). Social Policy in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Critical Introduction Routledge: New York.
Dean, H. (2006). Social Policy, Cambridge: Polity Press.
Deming, D. (2009). ” Early Childhood Intervention and Life-Cycle Skill Development: Evidence from Head Start.” American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 1 (3): 111.
Garces, E., Thomas, D., & Currie, J. (2002). ” Longer-Term Effects of Head Start.” The American Economic Review 92 (4), 999-1012.
Lee, K. (2011). ” Impacts of the duration of Head Start enrollment on childrens academic outcomes: Moderation effects of family risk factors and earlier outcomes.” Journal of Community Psychology 39 (6), 698.
McWayne, M., Cheung, K., Wright, L., Hahs-Vaughn, L., & Thomas, D. (2012). Educational Psychology 104 (3), 878.
Sciarra, D., Lynch, E., Adams, S., & Dorsey, A. (2015). Developing and Administering a Child Care and Education Program. New York: Cengage Learning.