What the Research Shows

Social and Economic Benefits

Long-term savings. For every dollar invested in quality child development programs, society saves at least $7 later on programs such as unemployment, criminal justice and child welfare.



Sound approach. Programs like Head Start are the most effective ways to reduce juvenile delinquency, childhood anti-social behavior, low cognitive abilities and poor parenting.



More active parents. Parents involved in Head Start participate in more activities when their children go on to school.

Academic Results

Classroom quality in Head Start is higher--and more consistent--on the whole than in commercial or center-based child-care preschool programs.

After just one year in Head Start, children have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in school.

At the end of kindergarten Head Start children show substantial gains in word knowledge, letter recognition, writing skills, and phonemic awareness.

Effects on Later School Performance.

When Head Start children go on to school, they:

Score higher than other children in verbal achievement, perceptual reasoning and social competence


Have significantly lower absentee rates.


Show higher self-esteem and better motivation and social behavior.


Receive more medical and dental screenings and dental care.


Display greater improvement in developmental, speech and vision problems.