Recommends that the Department of Health and Human Services ensure that every Head Start program can strive for excellence; expand the number of children served and the scope of services provided; and encourage community and school partnerships to ensure continuity of services, facilitate state and local collaboration, and link Head Start with…

Examines reasons for the differing perceptions of teachers and parents about the quality of early childhood programs. Suggests focusing energy on the daily quality of work with children because, when teachers provide quality experiences, parents notice and are more likely to express their support in the policy and political arena where early…

One school system's efforts to improve the quality of its early childhood programs included making early childhood education the top priority; exposing principals to developmentally appropriate practices; creating early childhood collaboratives; training teachers; upgrading classrooms; establishing demonstration centers; providing support for…

Research has proven the many benefits of early childhood education and development programs. Although much progress has been made in the last decade, many young children still do not have access to high-quality early childhood education. In many countries where government programs have failed, nongovernmental organizations and community groups…