| Abstract: |
Head Start is a national program that helps young children from families with low incomes prepare to succeed in school. It does this by working to promote children's early learning and health and their families' well-being. In 2021, the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, contracted with Mathematica to design and conduct the 2021-2022 Study of Family and Staff Well-Being in Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey Programs (the 2021-2022 Study). The study builds on the Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES). This report: (1) provides information on the 2021-2022 Study, including the background, design, methodology, assessments, and analytic methods; and (2) reports detailed findings on children, families, and teachers from fall 2021. Data were gathered in fall 2021 from a survey of children's parents, a teacher child report (TCR) survey, and a teacher survey. In total, 60 programs and 113 centers participated in the study, and within those programs and centers, parental consent was received for 1,363 children to participate. Mathematica received 785 completed parent surveys, 887 completed TCRs, and 191 completed teacher surveys. The data reported in the tables are based on aspects of the Head Start logic model, which suggests that program inputs (such as resources and funding or staff characteristics) are linked with the activities provided by Head Start (such as staff support, curricula, and assessments). Section A includes tables on children's characteristics, family background, and home environment. These characteristics are examined to understand the children in the sample and how their experiences in Head Start might fit into the larger context in which they are developing in their families and homes. Section B includes information on children's social-emotional and learning skills and shows these skills by their background characteristics (age, previous Head Start experience). Section C includes information on differences in children's physical health and disability status and shows this information by their background characteristics (age, previous Head Start experience). Section D includes tables on teacher characteristics. Information related to teacher well-being in fall 2021 is reported, including teachers' personal experiences related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as stress and anxiety related to being a parent or caregiver. |