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Early Learning across Decades: Advances in Measuring Head Start Effectiveness. Upjohn Institute Working Paper 26-425

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Title: Early Learning across Decades: Advances in Measuring Head Start Effectiveness. Upjohn Institute Working Paper 26-425
Language: English
Authors: Chloe Gibbs (ORCID 0000-0002-2684-053X), W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Source: W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. 2026.
Availability: W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. 300 South Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4686. Tel: 888-227-8569; Tel: 269-343-4330; Fax: 269-343-7310; Web site: http://research.upjohn.org/upjohn_publications/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 45
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Descriptors: Federal Programs, Low Income Students, Social Services, Early Childhood Education, Program Effectiveness, Disadvantaged Youth, Children, Family Programs, Program Evaluation, Trend Analysis, Enrollment Trends, Statistical Analysis, Educational Benefits
Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: Head Start
DOI: 10.17848/wp26-425
Abstract: The Head Start program, launched in 1965 and targeted to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, remains the largest early childhood care and education (ECE) program in the United States and the only one deployed at the federal level. As such, the Head Start literature spans several decades and now allows for synthesis of findings from different contexts, time periods, and research designs. This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the rigorous evidence measuring Head Start's effects on children, their families, and society. The focus is on how (1) the contrast between program and counterfactual conditions, (2) takeup of the program among eligible populations, and (3) treatment-effect heterogeneity inform interpretation and applicability of key findings. The paper presents implications of the evidence for the modern-day Head Start program and an adjacent, policy-relevant research agenda.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED679154
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Early Learning across Decades: Advances in Measuring Head Start Effectiveness. Upjohn Institute Working Paper 26-425
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chloe+Gibbs%22">Chloe Gibbs</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2684-053X">0000-0002-2684-053X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22W%2EE%2E+Upjohn+Institute+for+Employment+Research%22">W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research</searchLink>
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  Data: W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. 300 South Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4686. Tel: 888-227-8569; Tel: 269-343-4330; Fax: 269-343-7310; Web site: http://research.upjohn.org/upjohn_publications/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.17848/wp26-425
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  Data: The Head Start program, launched in 1965 and targeted to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, remains the largest early childhood care and education (ECE) program in the United States and the only one deployed at the federal level. As such, the Head Start literature spans several decades and now allows for synthesis of findings from different contexts, time periods, and research designs. This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the rigorous evidence measuring Head Start's effects on children, their families, and society. The focus is on how (1) the contrast between program and counterfactual conditions, (2) takeup of the program among eligible populations, and (3) treatment-effect heterogeneity inform interpretation and applicability of key findings. The paper presents implications of the evidence for the modern-day Head Start program and an adjacent, policy-relevant research agenda.
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 45
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      – SubjectFull: Federal Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Low Income Students
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      – SubjectFull: Social Services
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      – SubjectFull: Family Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Program Evaluation
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      – SubjectFull: Trend Analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Enrollment Trends
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      – SubjectFull: Statistical Analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Benefits
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      – SubjectFull: Head Start
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      – TitleFull: Early Learning across Decades: Advances in Measuring Head Start Effectiveness. Upjohn Institute Working Paper 26-425
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