Follow-up evaluation of Head Start program finds that most gains in cognitive development fade out by first grade

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released a follow-up to a 2005 study assessing gains made by approximately five thousand children randomly assigned to Head Start programs compared to children who did not attend Head Start programs. The 2005 study found that children made some progress on cognitive measures, particularly in pre-literacy skills. Kindergarten and first grade follow-up assessments, however, found that Head Start children's gains in these areas faded out, with the exception of small gains in vocabulary. These findings are particularly noteworthy based on the high profile that the Head Start program has in the Obama administration's efforts to promote early learning, particularly with regards to vulnerable children.

Read the news release at the Department of Health and Human Services website:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/01/20100113a.html

Read the excutive summary at the Department of Health and Human Services website:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/impact_study/reports/impact_study/executive_summary_final.pdf