Early Childhood Programs: Many Poor Children and Strained Resources
Challenge Head Start (Briefing Report, 05/17/94, GAO/HEHS-94-169BR).

The number of children under age five who are at risk of school failure
increased greatly during the 1980s. Education reform and the
reauthorization of Head Start--the centerpiece of federal early
childhood programs--have focused attention on improving the quality of
early childhood programs and increasing the number of children being
served.  This report highlights the major themes and policy implications
for implementing Head Start and other early childhood programs.  GAO
concludes that efforts to improve the quality of the Head Start program
and expand it to include more children are complicated by several
factors: the growing numbers and changing characteristics of poor
children, rising costs of services, and limited community resources.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  HEHS-94-169BR
     TITLE:  Early Childhood Programs: Many Poor Children and Strained 
             Resources Challenge Head Start
      DATE:  05/17/94
   SUBJECT:  Children
             Disadvantaged persons
             Preschoolers
             Child care programs
             Head-start programs
             Proposed legislation
             Eligibility determinations
             Teacher education
             Cost effectiveness analysis
             Funds management
IDENTIFIER:  Educate America Act
             Head Start Program
             Child Care and Development Block Grant
             HHS At-Risk Child Care Program
             Denmark
             France
             Italy
             Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program
             AFDC
             Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and 
             Children
             WIC
             Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program
             Maine
             Fairfax County (VA)
             Dept. of Education Chapter 1 Program for Educationally 
             Disadvantaged Children
             Even Start Program
             JOBS Program
             
************************************************************************

We regret that the full text of this item is presently unavailable.

See the GAO FAQ - Section 2.0 for printed copy ordering information.
The FAQ is automatically retrieved with all WAIS search results or 
can be obtained by sending e-mail to: [email protected]