Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

Why Head Start?

The long-term effects of Head Start

One third more at-risk children who attended a quality early childhood program graduated from high school than those who did not attend. This has meaningful significance to those concerned with the nation’s economic health since unemployment rates for high school graduates are 75 percent lower than those for non-graduates. Graduates earn an average of 25 percent more than non-graduates.
Children at-risk that benefited from a quality early childhood program spend 1.3 years less in some form of special education placement. The average costs of special education per year (in addition to standard educational costs) are approximately $2,300 per student.
Children at-risk who have been enrolled in a quality early childhood program are 25 percent less likely to be retained a grade. Since the current cost of public education is $5,900 per student, per year, this can save taxpayers a significant amount of money.
As adults, those who attended a quality early childhood program are three times as likely to be homeowners by age 27, compared to those who did not benefit from the program. As we all know, home ownership is an indicator of successful adaptation to society.
Young women who have experienced a quality early childhood program are one-third less likely to have out-of-wedlock births and 25 percent less likely to be teen mothers. The cost to society for teenage childbearing is extremely high and growing.
At-risk children not afforded the opportunity to participate in a quality early childhood program are five times more likely to be arrested repeatedly by age 27. Furthermore, there is evidence that the nature of the crimes committed by program children are of a less serious nature. We all know the tremendous cost to society of crime and its consequences.

Benefits for children, families, and communities

Head Start children are better prepared to learn and have higher self-esteem and social behavior at school entry.
Head Start has immediate positive effects on children’s socio-emotional development, including self-esteem, achievement motivation, and social behavior.
Parental involvement contributes to positive growth and upward mobility of Head Start parents.
Parents involved in Head Start are found to have greater quality of life, satisfaction, increased confidence in coping abilities, and decreased feelings of anxiety, depression, and sickness.
Head Start provides long-term effects on outcomes such as grade retention and placement in special education, thereby reducing costs to communities.