This report presents the key findings and recommendations of the Advisory Panel for the Head Start Evaluation Design Project. The principal audiences for the report are: (1) leadership and staff of the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF) who have administrative responsibility for Head Start; and (2) local Head Start programs. Section 1 discusses eight recommendations for an overall strategy and general principles. Section 2 presents recommended research directions considered important for building a knowledge base. Section 3 offers the panel's recommendations for research support activities that are needed to create an infrastructure for Head Start research and evaluation. A variety of groups are encouraged to collaborate with ACYF by supporting Head Start studies or by launching parallel research and evaluation initiatives. Foundations, research institutes, universities, state and local education agencies, the Department of Education, local child development and early childhood education programs, and policymakers may find the report useful for framing research issues and approaches. (RH)