Into Adulthood

by Oden, Sherri; Schweinhart, Lawrence J.; Weikart, David P.; Marcus, Sue M.; Xie, Yu

• ISBN13: 9781573790895
• ISBN10: 1573790893
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-02-01
• Publisher: High/Scope Foundation

Table of Contents

Tables	xi
Preface	xiii
1 INTRODUCTION	3	(6)
Head Start's Challenge---Then and Now	3	(1)
Perspectives on Head Start Research	4	(1)
About This Report	4	(5)
A Review of the Head Start Knowledge Base	5	(1)
The Study Methodology	5	(1)
The Variable Selection and Data Analysis	6	(1)
The Implications for Future Development and Research	7	(2)
2 HEAD START RESEARCH---AN HISTORICAL VIEW	9	(18)
The Aims of Head Start---Who Is Served	9	(1)
Specific Major Head Start Research Efforts	10	(5)
Head Start Planned Variation Research	11	(2)
Findings about intelligence test scores	12	(1)
Findings about model implementation	12	(1)
Research Following Children Into School: The Follow Through Project	13	(1)
Early findings and methodological limitations	13	(1)
Studying long-term effects	14	(1)
Summarizing the HSPV Study and the Follow Through Studies	14	(1)
The Major Syntheses of Research on Head Start and Other Early Intervention Programs	15	(8)
Two Examinations of Research on Head Start	15	(4)
The Head Start Synthesis study	16	(1)
The 1997 U.S. General Accounting Office report	17	(2)
Three Examinations of Research on Demonstration Programs	19	(3)
The Consortium for Longitudinal Studies	20	(1)
The Center for the Future of Children report	20	(1)
The literature review of the High/Scope Perry Preschool Project	21	(1)
Summarizing the Major Syntheses	22	(1)
The Head Start Synthesis study	22	(1)
The 1997 GAO report	22	(1)
The three examinations of research on demonstration programs	22	(1)
Some Specific Long-Term Studies of Demonstration Early Childhood Programs	23	(2)
The Abecedarian Project	23	(1)
The Evaluation of the Chicago Child-Parent Center Programs	23	(1)
The Syracuse University Family Development Research Program Longitudinal Follow-up Study	24	(1)
The High/Scope Longitudinal Studies	24	(1)
The High/Scope Perry Preschool study	24	(1)
The High/Scope Preschool Curriculum Comparison study	25	(1)
Summarizing the Specific Long-Term Studies of Demonstration Early Childhood Programs	25	(1)
Building on the Knowledge Base---The Long-Term Benefits of Head Start Study	25	(2)
3 THE DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY OF THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS OF HEAD START STUDY	27	(24)
The LTBHS Study Groups	27	(1)
The LTBHS Study Sites and Groups	28	(2)
The Florida Site	28	(1)
The Colorado Site	29	(1)
The Study Design	30	(1)
Potential Sources of Study Bias	31	(2)
Potential Bias in the Head Start Recruitment Process	31	(1)
Potential Bias in the Data Collection Procedures	32	(1)
The Study Procedures	33	(6)
Selecting Potential Members of the Study's No-Head Start Group	33	(1)
Locating, Recruiting, and Interviewing Potential Study Participants	34	(1)
Selecting Local Project Coordinators, Locators, and Interviewers	34	(1)
Local project coordinators	34	(1)
Locators and interviewers	35	(1)
Locating and Contacting Potential Study Participants	35	(2)
The approach used to locate participants	35	(1)
The location obstacles encountered and overcome	36	(1)
The procedures used to contact participants	36	(1)
Interviewing Potential Study Participants	37	(2)
Study participants who were difficult to schedule	37	(1)
Study participants living outside the study site	38	(1)
The last-interviewed study participants	38	(1)
Interviewee compensation	39	(1)
Response Rates of the Potential Study Participants	39	(1)
The Final Study Sample	39	(2)
Collection of Study Data	41	(6)
The Interview and Adult APL Survey	41	(3)
The interview instrument	41	(1)
The Adult APL Survey	42	(1)
Interviewer training	43	(1)
Interview and Adult APL Survey data collection	43	(1)
The Records Search	44	(2)
Obtaining access to records data	44	(1)
Educational records	44	(1)
Public assistance records	45	(1)
Criminal records	45	(1)
U.S. Bureau of the Census records	46	(1)
Data Coding and Entry	46	(1)
Occupational data sources	46	(1)
Occupational codes	47	(1)
The Data Analysis Approach	47	(2)
The Advisory Panel and the Independent Analysts	47	(1)
The Analytic Approaches	48	(1)
Variables and predictions from the High/Scope Perry Preschool study	48	(1)
A common core of key variables	48	(1)
Statistical adjustments for original group differences	48	(1)
Summary of the Study Methodology	49	(2)
4 THE CORE VARIABLES OF THE LTBHS STUDY	51	(16)
Basis for Selecting the Core Variables	51	(1)
Deriving the Core Variables From the Data Sources	52	(1)
The Core Covariates	52	(4)
Study Participant's Group Status	53	(1)
Head Start group versus No---Head Start group	53	(1)
Model Head Start group versus Regular Head Start group	53	(1)
Study Participant's Individual Characteristics	54	(1)
Gender	54	(1)
Racial/ethnic membership	54	(1)
Age at interview	54	(1)
Kindergarten participation	54	(1)
Study Participant's Family Background	54	(2)
Number of Siblings	55	(1)
Household size/structure	55	(1)
Mother's and father's education	55	(1)
Mother's and father's employment	55	(1)
Family welfare assistance	56	(1)
Site tract-level characteristics	56	(1)
The Core Outcome Variables	56	(9)
Study Participant's Education	57	(3)
Educational attainment	57	(1)
Grade point average (GPA)	57	(1)
Years in educable mental impairment (EMI) classes	58	(1)
Adult APL Survey Score	59	(1)
Life Situation/Economic Status	60	(4)
Employment/school-enrollment status	60	(2)
Teen-parent status	62	(1)
Public assistance	62	(2)
Criminal Activity---Arrests and Convictions	64	(1)
Summary	65	(2)
5 FINDINGS ON THE ORIGINAL COMPARABILITY OF THE LTBHS STUDY GROUPS	67	(20)
An Overview of the Analysis Process	68	(1)
Selecting the LTBHS Study's Variables and Predicting Findings	68	(1)
Examining the LTBHS Study Groups' Initial Comparability	69	(1)
Adjusting for Initial Group Differences	69	(1)
The Findings on the Covariates: Individual Characteristics and Family Background	69	(11)
Study Participants' Individual Characteristics	70	(3)
Comparing the Head Start group and the No--Head Start group at the two sites	70	(2)
Summing up individual characteristics---Head Start versus No--Head Start	72	(1)
Comparing the Model Head Start group and the Regular Head Start group at the Florida site	72	(1)
Summing up individual characteristics---Model Head Start versus Regular Head Start	72	(1)
Study Participants' Family Backgrounds	73	(5)
Comparing the Head Start group and the No-Head Start group at the two sites	73	(3)
Summing up family background---Head Start versus No---Head Start	76	(1)
Comparing the Model Head Start group and the Regular Head Start group at the Florida site	76	(2)
Summing up family background---Model Head Start versus Regular Head Start	78	(1)
The Site Tract-Level Characteristics of Study Participants' Original Households	78	(2)
Comparing the Head Start groups and the No-Head Start groups at the two sites	78	(1)
Summing up site tract-level characteristics---Head Start versus No--Head Start	78	(2)
Comparing the Model Head Start group and the Regular Head Start group at the Florida site	80	(1)
Summing up site tract-level characteristics---Model Head Start versus Regular Head Start	80	(1)
Based on Background Characteristics---The Expected Pattern of Findings on Long-Term Benefits	80	(5)
Comparison of the LTBHS Study and Related Studies: Participants' Backgrounds	80	(4)
The Head Start Planned Variation study	81	(2)
The High/Scope Preschool Curriculum Comparison study	83	(1)
The High/Scope Perry Preschool study	83	(1)
Expected Findings for the LTBHS Study	84	(1)
Predictions for the Head Start versus No--Head Start groups	84	(1)
Predictions for the Model versus Regular Head Start groups	85	(1)
A Summary of Expectations Based on Background Comparisons	85	(2)
6 MAJOR FINDINGS ON HEAD START'S LONG-TERM BENEFITS	87	(20)
The Study Participants as Young Adults	88	(1)
Estimating Head Start Benefits: The Effectiveness of Adjusting for Background Differences	88	(4)
Adjusting for Measured Background Differences	89	(1)
Estimating Unmeasured Bias	90	(2)
Summary of the Adjustment/Estimation Process	92	(1)
The Findings on the Core Outcome Variables	92	(13)
Analysis of Head Start Versus No--Head Start	93	(3)
Educational outcomes	93	(3)
Economic and other life-situation outcomes	96	(1)
Summary of the Head Start Versus No--Head Start Analysis	96	(1)
Analysis of Model Head Start Versus Regular Head Start	96	(5)
Educational outcomes	98	(2)
Other life-situation outcomes	100	(1)
Summary of the Model Head Start Versus Regular Head Start Analysis	101	(1)
Comparing Other Specific Subgroups---Analysis by Gender	101	(3)
Educational outcomes	102	(1)
Other life-situation outcomes	102	(2)
Summary of the Analysis by Gender	104	(1)
Comparing Other Specific Subgroups---Analysis by Racial/Ethnic Membership and Socioeconomic Level	104	(1)
Educational outcomes	104	(1)
Other life-situation outcomes	105	(1)
Summary of the Analysis by Racial/Ethnic Membership and Socioeconomic Level	105	(1)
Conclusion	105	(2)
7 SUMMARY AND IMPLICATIONS	107	(14)
What Studies Have Thus Far Revealed About Head Start Effects	107	(1)
An Overview of This Study	108	(2)
The Methodology	108	(1)
The Expected Findings	109	(1)
A Summary of the LTBHS Study's Major Findings	110	(3)
Estimates of Head Start's Long-Term Effects	111	(1)
Findings for Specific Subgroups	111	(1)
Assessing the Findings	112	(1)
Implications and Recommendations	113	(6)
What Do the LTBHS Study's Findings Mean for Head Start Programs?	113	(2)
Today's Head Start: Serving a larger number and a greater diversity	113	(1)
Today's Head Start: Focusing on enhancing quality	114	(1)
Today's Head Start: Building communication/partnerships with schools and communities	115	(1)
What Do the LTBHS Study's Findings Mean for Head Start Research?	115	(4)
Continue to conduct studies of Head Start's contributions to children's development	115	(1)
Study Head Start programs that attempt to achieve enduring as well as immediate benefits	116	(1)
Conduct studies that focus on components of quality-oriented program development	116	(1)
Employ a diversity of research designs and methodological approaches	116	(3)
Summary of Lessons Learned	119	(1)
Conclusion	119	(2)
Appendix A: Directories and Other Resources Used in Locating Study Participants	121	(4)
Appendix B: The Study's Core Variables	125	(10)
Appendix C: Original Comparability of Study Groups---Additional Tables and Map	135	(4)
Appendix D: Assessment of the Long-Term Benefits of Head Start	139	(30)
Yu Xie
Appendix E: Endogenous Switching Regression Models	169	(10)
Yu Xie
Appendix F: Estimating the Long-Term Effects of Head Start	179	(22)
Sue M. Marcus
References	201