The Head Start Advantage

Summary

The script narrates the transformative impact of the Head Start program, established in 1965 in East Texas, on underprivileged children. It emphasizes the program's comprehensive approach to early childhood education, nurturing the whole child through language development, parent engagement, and health support. Highlighting the program's long-term benefits, including improved educational outcomes and reduced poverty, the script features personal stories of individuals whose lives were positively influenced by Head Start, showcasing its role in shaping America's future workforce and fostering a more competitive global economy.

Takeaways

• 🏡 In 1965, a young woman introduced the Head Start program to low-income African-American families in a small East Texas town, emphasizing its importance for early childhood education.
• 🌟 Head Start is a comprehensive educational program that benefits not only children but also parents, aiming to enhance the whole character of the child.
• 🧠 The program is grounded in scientific evidence, highlighting the critical role of early language environment and quality childcare in brain development during the first few years of life.
• 🌱 Head Start recognizes the importance of early learning, stating that education begins on the first day of life, with the first five years being crucial for a child's development.
• 🌐 The script points out that other countries are adopting and acting on the research behind early childhood development, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to do the same to maintain a competitive workforce.
• 📉 The changing demographics and increasing poverty in America mean that without access to programs like Head Start, children will be left behind, affecting their ability to catch up with their peers.
• 🌈 Personal stories shared in the script illustrate the transformative impact of Head Start on individuals' lives, from improving academic performance to fostering a love of learning.
• 🍎 The script underscores the importance of nutrition in early childhood development, noting that for many children in poverty, Head Start provides essential nutrients and a healthy start.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Head Start is described as a community effort that involves parents and caregivers, recognizing their role in a child's development and providing support to enhance home and school collaboration.
• 💼 The script shares stories of individuals who have achieved professional success, attributing their accomplishments to the foundational education and opportunities provided by Head Start.
• 🌟 The long-term benefits of Head Start are highlighted, including higher income, lower incarceration rates, and improved life stability for participants, emphasizing the program's value as an investment in human capital.

Q & A

What is Head Start and when was it introduced?

Head Start is a comprehensive educational program that addresses the whole child, including children and parents. It was introduced in the spring of 1965 as a government program aimed at providing early education to low-income families.

Why was Head Start created?

Head Start was created to provide a rich early language environment, quality early childcare, and quality interaction to children, especially those from low-income backgrounds, to help them reach their full potential and prepare them for future educational success.

How does Head Start impact a child's development?

Head Start impacts a child's development by providing early education, health, and nutrition services, which are crucial for brain development. It also offers social and emotional support, setting a foundation for all future learning and thinking.

What are the long-term benefits of participating in Head Start?

Long-term benefits of Head Start include higher educational achievement, improved health, increased income, reduced likelihood of incarceration, and more stable family lives. It also contributes to the development of a skilled workforce for the country.

How does Head Start support families living in poverty?

Head Start supports families living in poverty by offering comprehensive services such as health checks, nutrition, and early education. It also provides resources and activities that parents can use to engage with their children and support their learning at home.

What role does Head Start play in addressing the challenges faced by children from low-income backgrounds?

Head Start plays a crucial role in leveling the playing field for children from low-income backgrounds by providing them with early education, health care, and social services that they might not otherwise receive, preparing them to compete academically and socially.

How does Head Start contribute to the United States' global competitiveness?

Head Start contributes to the United States' global competitiveness by investing in early childhood education, which is essential for developing a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. This investment in human capital helps the country maintain a competitive edge in the global economy.

What is the significance of the statement 'a head start not only feeds the aspirations of young people, it also seeds the aspirations of their parents'?

This statement emphasizes that Head Start not only benefits the children by providing them with a strong educational foundation but also instills hope and ambition in their parents. It highlights the program's role in engaging families and fostering a cycle of positive change and investment in children's futures.

Why is it important to start educational interventions like Head Start early in a child's life?

Starting educational interventions early in a child's life is important because the first few years are critical for brain development, where the majority of the brain's physical structure is formed. Early interventions like Head Start can significantly impact a child's cognitive, social, and emotional development.

How does Head Start help in breaking the cycle of poverty?

Head Start helps break the cycle of poverty by providing children from low-income families with the tools they need to succeed academically and socially. By offering early education, health care, and support services, it equips children with the skills necessary to improve their future prospects and economic status.

What is the economic return on investment for Head Start?

The economic return on investment for Head Start is significant, with studies showing that for every dollar spent, there is a return of a little more than seven dollars in terms of long-term outcomes such as health, crime reduction, labor force participation, and income generation.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 The Impact of Head Start on Early Childhood Education

The first paragraph narrates the introduction of the Head Start program in a small East Texas town in 1965. It emphasizes the program's comprehensive approach to early childhood education, targeting low-income African-American families. The program's benefits are highlighted, including its positive long-term effects on children's educational and life outcomes. The importance of early language environment and quality childcare in brain development is underscored, with the brain's rapid formation during the first years of life. The narrative also touches on the global application of early childhood education research and the necessity of programs like Head Start to prepare children for academic success and to maintain a competitive workforce.

05:02

🚀 From Humble Beginnings to Lifelong Achievements

Paragraph two recounts personal stories of individuals who benefited from the Head Start program. It includes the narrative of a child who, thanks to Head Start, became a rocket scientist and an engineer, emphasizing the program's role in changing lives and communities. The paragraph also covers the program's holistic approach, providing not just academics but also health, nutrition, and social-emotional support. It discusses the challenges faced by children in poverty and how Head Start can level the playing field, preparing children for success and contributing to the nation's human capital.

10:04

🏡 Head Start: A Family and Community Investment

The third paragraph delves into the transformative impact of Head Start on families and communities. It discusses the program's comprehensive support, including health, resources, and social connections. Personal stories are shared, such as a military veteran who found support through Head Start after experiencing PTSD. The narrative highlights the program's effectiveness in early childhood development, preparing children for kindergarten, and fostering a love of learning. The economic benefits of Head Start are also discussed, with evidence showing a high return on investment for society.

15:05

🌟 Head Start: A Foundation for Lifelong Success

The final paragraph underscores the long-term benefits of Head Start, including increased stability, higher incomes, and reduced incarceration rates among its alumni. It emphasizes the program's role in leveling the educational playing field and its importance in developing human capital for the nation's economy. The narrative also touches on the value of early investment in children as a preventative measure rather than remediation later in life. Personal stories continue to be a theme, with accounts of Head Start alumni who have achieved success in various fields, highlighting the program's enduring legacy.

Keywords

💡Head Start

Head Start is a comprehensive educational program for children from low-income families. It aims to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through age-appropriate learning experiences, health, nutritional, and social services. In the video, it is described as a program that has a lasting impact on children's educational journeys and overall life outcomes, as it provides a strong foundation for learning from an early age.

💡Liberty County, Texas

Liberty County is a setting in the video where the Head Start program was introduced. It represents a rural area in East Texas with a small population, symbolizing the kind of communities where such programs can make a significant difference. The video script describes the outreach to African-American families living in low-income shotgun houses, illustrating the program's role in bridging gaps in educational opportunities.

💡Early Childhood Education

Early childhood education refers to the learning and development that occurs during the first years of a child's life, typically before formal schooling begins. The video emphasizes the importance of this phase, stating that the first five years of life are critical for a child's cognitive and social development. Head Start is portrayed as a program that effectively supports early childhood education by providing structured learning experiences and essential services.

💡Neural Connections

Neural connections, also known as synapses, are the junctions between neurons through which nerve impulses are transmitted. The video mentions that the brain creates hundreds to a thousand new neural connections every second during early childhood, highlighting the rapid development that occurs during this period. The script suggests that quality early education, like Head Start, can significantly influence this process by enriching a child's environment and stimulating cognitive development.

💡Poverty

Poverty is a state of deprivation where an individual or community lacks the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living. In the context of the video, poverty is a significant barrier to accessing quality education and other resources necessary for a child's development. The Head Start program is depicted as a means to combat the effects of poverty by providing essential services and educational opportunities to children from low-income families.

💡Socioeconomic Disadvantage

Socioeconomic disadvantage refers to the social and economic factors that limit an individual's or group's ability to achieve their full potential. The video script discusses how children from low-income families often face such disadvantages, being excluded from mainstream opportunities. Head Start is presented as a program that helps to mitigate these disadvantages by offering early education and support services to level the playing field for these children.

💡Global Economy

The global economy encompasses all economic activities and the economic relationships among countries. The video script mentions the importance of preparing children to compete in the global economy, emphasizing the role of early education in developing a skilled workforce. Head Start is portrayed as a vital investment for America's future, ensuring that children are equipped with the necessary skills to contribute to and compete in the global marketplace.

💡Health and Wellness Checks

Health and wellness checks are routine medical examinations and assessments that ensure a child's physical and mental well-being. The video script highlights that Head Start not only focuses on education but also on the overall health of children, providing health screenings and promoting wellness. This comprehensive approach is crucial for children's holistic development and sets a strong foundation for their future success.

💡Social-Emotional Support

Social-emotional support refers to the assistance provided to help children develop social skills, emotional regulation, and a sense of self-worth. The video emphasizes the importance of such support in early childhood, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Head Start is described as a program that offers this support, helping children to build positive relationships and emotional resilience, which are essential for their academic and personal growth.

💡Lifelong Learners

Lifelong learners are individuals who engage in continuous learning throughout their lives. The video script suggests that the ultimate goal of education, including programs like Head Start, is to instill a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. By fostering an environment that encourages curiosity and the acquisition of knowledge, Head Start aims to cultivate children who will continue to learn and adapt throughout their lives, contributing positively to society.

💡Community Engagement

Community engagement refers to the active involvement of community members in activities and initiatives that affect their lives. The video script underscores the importance of community involvement in the success of the Head Start program. By partnering with parents and local communities, Head Start is able to create a supportive network that extends beyond the classroom, ensuring that the benefits of the program are sustained and that children are prepared for school and life.

Highlights

In 1965, a young woman introduced the Head Start program to a low-income African-American community in East Texas.

Head Start is a comprehensive educational program that benefits the whole child, including children and parents.

The program has a track record of maintaining advantages throughout a child's educational journey and life.

Early language environment and quality childcare are crucial for brain development in the first few years of life.

Head Start aims to provide a rich early environment to reach children's full potential.

Many countries are adopting research-based approaches to early childcare, recognizing its importance for future success.

Without access to programs like Head Start, children in poverty risk falling behind and never catching up to their peers.

Head Start is vital for America's present and future, ensuring a competitive workforce in the global economy.

Head Start provides essential nutrients to children in high-poverty areas who may not receive them at home.

The program helps reduce the impact of poverty by providing a stimulating environment for children and support for parents.

Head Start was conceived as a neighborhood effort to combat poverty and its perpetuation.

The program has been transformational for many, including a graduate who became a rocket scientist and an engineer.

Head Start not only educates children but also supports families, providing resources and assistance.

The program has a profound impact on children's development, as seen in a child's progress from not talking to saying 'I love you'.

Head Start offers comprehensive health, resources, and a supportive community for children and families.

The program helps level the playing field, providing all children with an opportunity to learn and succeed.

Head Start has a high return on investment, with each dollar of cost yielding over seven dollars of societal return.

The program contributes to long-term outcomes such as higher income, lower incarceration rates, and more stable lives.

Head Start engages families, recognizing parents as the architects of their children's brains and partners in their education.

Investing in Head Start is an investment in the nation's human capital and its future economy.

The program has produced successful individuals in various fields, including business, law, and education.

Head Start's impact is generational, with many of its graduates achieving significant accomplishments in their lives.

Transcripts

in the spring of 1965 in a little town

in East Texas called

Ames Liberty County population 1400 on a

dirt road

a young woman approached a number of

little shotgun houses these shotgun

houses were occupied by

african-americans who were low income

and who in many ways were excluded from

the mainstream of what was happening in

Liberty County Texas in 1965 she came to

the porch of the little shotgun house

that my mother and my sister and I lived

in and she talked to my mom about a new

government program called Head Start and

asked if my mother would enroll me of

course my mother took great advantage of

the idea of getting me out of the house

and getting me I had started my

education headstart is a comprehensive

educational program that speaks of the

whole character of the child and so

headstart reaches children and parents

and has a track record and the data that

makes clear that the advantages that you

gain in headstart are maintained well

into your educational journey

and if sustained and supported continue

with you for the rest of your life the

science is pretty clear without a rich

early language environment without

quality early childcare without quality

interaction you will never reach your

potential because the brain unlike any

other organ really comes out pretty

unformed during the first few years of

life some 80 to 85 percent of the

physical brain will be

the brain is incredibly active creating

some seven hundred to a thousand new

neural connections every second it's

really building the foundations for all

thinking and learning in what grows it

it's really the language and interaction

with parents and caregivers learning

doesn't start on the first day of school

it doesn't start on the first day of

kindergarten it starts on the first day

of life and these first five years of

life are critical what's very

interesting is that I see that there are

so many other countries out there who

are taking our research and putting it

into action

systematically developing complex

approaches to the early child care

setting because they know that if they

want their their population to be at the

top and math and reading and technology

the stem field they need to start day

one America has had rapidly changing

demographics not just in heritage but

also in an increase in poverty and if

kids don't have access to great programs

like Head Start they will forever be

behind and they'll never be able to

catch up to their peers and what that

also means to America is they won't have

the workforce that we need to compete in

the global economy

so Head Start is absolutely vital for

America now and in the future

[Music]

going to be a couple on the gas I'm

making a picture of something that I

remember seeing outside our window the

rainbows remember that that was so

pretty my gosh in a high-poverty at home

there's generally less either knowledge

or access to high nutrition food so a

lot of children we're going to receive

their most nutrients of the day in a

center-based program having the right

macronutrients micronutrients so key to

healthy brain development when people

are living in poverty they have a lot of

stresses in their lives so parents may

not have as much time to play with their

kids to engage them in conversations

about life and why things work the way

they do and that's where I think it's

really important that Head Start is

available to family so that the parents

have a place where their kids can go and

can learn and they can bring home

activities that can help the parents

engage with their kids so home and

school can work together in that way and

what dream is that there is this amazing

video of Lyndon Johnson when he talked

about the war on poverty and he talked

about his experience in Cotulla Texas

and he saw kids that needed a headstart

that needed to have you know good meals

at school they needed to learn the

alphabet when they were very young they

needed to have those health and wellness

checks they needed to have the social

emotional support and he promised

himself that when he ever got in a

position to do something about that he

would we called on program

project headstart the program was

conceived and not so much as a federal

effort but really as a neighborhood

effort and response we have received

from the neighborhoods and the

communities has been the most stirring

and the most enthusiastic of any

peacetime program that I can remember it

shows that we are recognizing that

poverty perpetuates itself five and six

year old children are inheritors of

poverty skirts and not its creators

unless we act these children will pass

it on to the next generation like a

family brother I believe that this is

one of the most constructive and when

the most sensible and also on the most

exciting program that this nation has

ever undertaken

he started headstart and I was one of

the beneficiaries of that and I'm

grateful because I know that it changed

my life it has changed the lives of

millions of people it's changed and

improved their communities and it's

prepared the workforce I became a rocket

scientist became an engineer graduate of

Stanford engineering and that road to

all that workforce and success started

with head start we lived in very humble

circumstances we lived you know on a

dirt street when I started my school

experience and so my mom enrolled me in

the program and like remember to this

day mrs. Davenport opening the door and

she just looked to me amazing and she

just beamed when she welcomed us into

the classroom I remember it all being

really fun and every week I got to do a

new book and I got to work on my

penmanship and I learned the alphabet

very carefully and so that when I

started my first grade my teacher she

was really impressed with me because

most of my classmates were my neighbors

and they had not been part of Head Start

so I got to go to the head of the class

right away and I was the star student

and I was a star student because of head

start I just came across the program

online I was looking for local preschool

programs

through the computer and has our program

came up so I applied for the twins and

it's what the twins got in when she

first started Head Start she you know

she was just a normal normal toddler but

we hadn't really started any academics

with her so she has actually came a long

long way with that she's she has learned

a lot I Charlotte every day we get with

her vocabulary she's got you know five

six syllable words in there and it

shocks me I don't know how the she kids

hitted present she picks it up from the

school then Dallas was diagnosed with

autism and 14 months so we were kind of

like we were stuck I didn't really know

what to do from that point when he

started with speech he didn't talk and

we started using sign language I would

get videos from the library and learn

how to sign so I could communicate with

Alice so I could understand what he was

trying to say to us and then then he

started you know once we got to speech

and he was around kids that were not on

the spectrum he came home one day and we

just you know we did our daily routine

and I laid him down for a bed that night

and I said I love you and he said I love

you too and he had never said that

before he had never even said three

words together and here he said I love

you and it made me high that was my big

moment with him he went from he wouldn't

even leave a house and now he's four and

he plays at the park he wants to do

soccer he rides his bike and he is

really he really has bloomed with

headstart

[Music]

Head Start to me offers comprehensive

health it offers resources it offers

been cool it offers a way that I can

meet more people I've had a great

experience with Head Start I joined the

military I served in Katrina served at

Iraq and I did other various stateside

position I was traumatized

psychologically I was diagnosed with

PTSD once I received the headstart

pamphlet I researched it I then call the

number made sure I qualified and I met

with someone so NAPA like I said I

transitioned from military so adjusting

was challenging to me head store came in

my home visitor she came into the home

she did her initial assessment

I loved her professionalism I loved her

persistence

I loved her drive and not only did she

provide resources and assistance to the

children she provided resources and

assistance for me my son he's in private

school now and he has been class

ambassador since pre-k for kindergarten

and now first grade he placed third in

the spelling bee and that's profound

because he was going against eighth

graders vertuous she's working on her

rhyming skills her yelling skills I'm

going to treat her reading skills yes

she does yes she's a little out there

with her lingo you know when you

transition from a war zone area back to

society you need a minute it takes time

to adjust and I have to realize I'm no

longer Valerie the soldier I am Valerie

the nurturer the mother and with that

retrospect the fact that she applied

patience with her professionalism it

meant a lot to me so not only were the

kids learning I was learning too you

know headstart is a wonderful program

it has over 50 years of experience but

not just that it is always maintained

its focus on the child and what is the

best food child kids today when they

enter kindergarten if they haven't been

to school before unless they're

receiving outstanding input at home

I think are at a disadvantage headstart

builds on the kinds of topics the kids

are interested in it uses a lot of play

based developmentally appropriate

activities to interest kids and topics

to support their development it sets

them up for success it gives them a

feeling that they can succeed when they

look around the room and they know

something it's going to give them the

confidence to learn the new skills that

come along to meet the challenges on

tasks that might be harder so that when

they start kindergarten they're ready to

hit the road running everything from you

know making sure you have dental health

wellness checks also you

social/emotional your psychological

needs of your child as well as preparing

them to learn helping them learn about

reading learning the alphabet print

awareness color shapes all those things

and doing it in a way that's fun that

they will have just like I had develop a

love of learning that comes from head

start and you really don't get that in

any other program so we take into

account all the cost so that when we add

and subtract all the costs and benefits

through health crime labor income income

of the parents program cost and so on we

find that for each dollar of cost

there's a little more than seven dollars

of return if you're talking about the

society like the US it's hard to think

of a social program with a higher return

in terms of the long-term outcomes that

Head Start supports there's evidence

that people have more stability in their

lives if they went to Head Start that

they are more likely to have higher

incomes to not be incarcerated to have

marriages that last so these are very

important things in terms of life

happiness to health all kinds of

important outcomes we don't get to

choose who our parents are what their

stresses are in life what their

education were like so that they might

know more or less about how to teach us

when we're young headstart offers the

opportunity to in some way levels of

playing field

so all kids have an opportunity to learn

and that supports our human capital as a

nation and as part of the global economy

of the world our most precious resources

are children if they're not prepared to

be lifelong learners and that begins at

the earliest ages then our whole economy

our country all its resources will be

for naught

so much is put on the school system to

try to remediate issues from earlier

times but I'm from the health care

system we all know that prevention is a

much better way to go than remediation

it's pretty clear that to give every

child a chance to give our country a

chance to be most cost effective we need

to start early rather than late a head

start not only feeds the aspirations of

young people

it also seeds the aspirations of their

parents in terms of their investments in

the children's lives and their

children's well-being it's about

engaging families into the school system

this provides a parent with an

opportunity to feel welcomed and

participatory in their child after

demmick career parents are the true

architects of their children's brains

and the beauty of the head start early

head start program is that they

understand you they know this and so

their teachers the early child care

providers understand that they truly

need to partner with parents so this is

not just about sending your child that

head start or Early Head Start its about

partnering with these organizations and

allowing your child to be ready for

school investing their child we don't

want to teach our children to get a job

we want to teach our children to create

a job by you creating a job it's not

just about individual self it's about

everyone it's about the community we as

a country understand the importance of

investing in infrastructure we

understand the importance of investing

in the military but we also have to come

to appreciate that Head Start is in fact

an investment and it is an investment

that has paid off and paid dividends

generationally speaking and

we have folks now who run companies were

lawyers were ministers who teachers and

police officers heads a major foundation

who are graduates of head start and in

my office upstairs here the headquarters

of the NAACP there for diplomas on my

wall one from Yale Law School one from

Jackson State University one from Boston

University School of Theology and a

commemorative diploma from head start

head start gave me my head start it was

the first time I'd had any real

structured engagement around learning

and it just was transformational I think

in so many ways head start put me on a

path to learning and made it possible

for me to think about a life outside of

that little town and I became an early

advocate for head start before I came to

philanthropy so it was an amazing thing

to learn that 50 years after I entered

head start at 55 I became president of

the 4th Foundation and that was very

lucky because the Ford Foundation funded

researchers for looking at early

childhood development and the different

interventions that might work both in

terms of poverty reduction and

educational achievement and to know that

the institution that I now lead was the

impetus for the most important program

in my lifetime is just a huge blessing

and I feel so fortunate

to be in this position but I'm very

aware that I probably would not be in

this position had I not been given a

head start - head start

you