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Early Childhood

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Evaluation of Early Childhood Programs – Performance Criteria and Assessment Instruments

  • The goal of this project is to assist NAEYC, the premiere organization of child care providers in the U.S., to revise and improve their existing tools and processes for accreditation of early childhood programs. AIR will assist NAEYC through a full review and revision of their accreditation system, including changes to the criteria to be met, the “standards” required to meet the criteria, the methodology for the program’s self-study, the development of criteria for NAEYC to use to decide if a program is ready for a visit, and decision criteria to use to decide if the program is ready for accreditation or should be deferred. A revised and improved early childhood accreditation system for NAEYC will be provided at the conclusion of the project.

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Impact of Head Start Program

  • The National Head Start Impact Study has two primary goals. The first is to determine, on a national basis, how Head Start affects the school readiness of children participating in the program as compared to children not enrolled in Head Start. Does Head Start improve children's cognitive development, general knowledge, approaches to learning, social and emotional development, communication skills, fine and gross motor skills, and physical well-being? In addition, how does Head Start affect the lives of the families of children enrolled in the program? The National Head Start Impact Study is a longitudinal study that will involve approximately 5,000 - 6,000 three and four year old preschool children across an estimated 75 nationally representative grantee/delegate agencies in communities where there are more eligible children and families than can be served by the program. Data collection will continue through 2006, following children through the spring of their first grade year of school.

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