Deck 6: Head Start and Early Head Start: Empowering Change From Within

Question 1

What does the term early intervention refer to?

A) Providing medical insurance for children whose parents are unemployed and uninsured.
B) Legislation designed to provide nutritional meals to families who cannot provide adequate food for their child(ren).
C) Programs for children who are living in conditions that include one or more risk factor for possible future school or life problems.
D) Services for immigrant families designed to promote English language acquisition.

Answer 1

Programs for children who are living in conditions that include one or more risk factor for possible future school or life problems.

Question 2

The creation of Head Start programs is attributed to which political leader?

A) President Johnson, 1965
B) President Ford, 1979
C) President Kennedy, 1962
D) President Bush, 1991

Answer 2

President Johnson, 1965

Question 3

In what ways do Head Start teachers seek to empower families as a whole?

A) Holding annual parent meetings where teachers report on children's progress.
B) Supporting parent action on advisory boards and through meaningful, active involvement in children's education, including jobs when appropriate.
C) Sending home monthly parent newsletters.
D) Coordinating parent trips to the local library.

Answer 3

Supporting parent action on advisory boards and through meaningful, active involvement in children's education, including jobs when appropriate.

Question 4

Why are the Head Start program standards flexible in terms of implementation?

A) There is not yet a strong research base guiding intervention programming.
B) To encourage tailoring each program to the unique community culture.
C) The program is still being developed, no core program has been finalized.
D) To reduce the likelihood that research will reveal negative results of program effectiveness.

Question 5

What elements influenced the creation of Head Start programs?

A) Political rhetoric designed to earn a reelection.
B) Public demand for widespread care programs to keep children out of trouble while parents work, Children's Bill of Rights legislation.
C) Research on the importance of early experiences and the potential negative influence of living in poverty, equality movements.
D) Increases in birth rates, resulting in more children in society.

Question 6

How do Head Start programs seek to ameliorate the negative effects of identified risk factors?

A) By giving low-SES parents grants to go back to school.
B) By assisting unemployed parents in obtaining jobs.
C) Through parent-education classes.
D) Through comprehensive health, wellness, and school programming.

Question 7

What has been identified as the "single most powerful factor that can negatively influence brain development"?

A) Number of times mother is married
B) Number of siblings in the home
C) Amount of toys and play materials in the home
D) Poverty

Question 8

Head Start "school readiness" goals focus on:

A) Language, academic, and social competence.
B) Improving intelligence test scores.
C) Dramatic play skills.
D) Reducing juvenile crime.

Question 9

The rates of children living in families categorized as low-income:

A) Continues to decline.
B) Is greater for immigrant children and children of Hispanic origin.
C) Is greater for children living in urban areas.
D) Is unrelated to children's learning and development outcomes.

Question 10

Successful early intervention programs include the following features, EXCEPT:

A) Balance teacher-directed and child-initiated learning
B) Are based on developmental theories
C) Are implemented by staff with minimal formal training and education
D) Meaningfully involve families in children's school life

Question 11

Which of the following are the four pillars of comprehensive Head Start services:

A) Health, Wellness, intelligence testing, community fund-raising.
B) Health and wellness, learning experiences, family involvement, community partnerships.
C) Community partnerships, family education, dental care, intelligence testing.
D) Learning experiences, family education, health care, community fund-raising.
E) Dental care, parent involvement, wellness, community partnerships.

Question 12

When seeking to form parent partnerships, particularly during home visits, Head Start teachers are careful to avoid:

A) Creating a one-way information flow by simply telling parents about their children.
B) Communicating with parents in their native language (for non-English speakers).
C) Seeking parent input and insight into their child(ren).
D) Valuing parents' active involvement in the school community.

Question 13

Recent research on Early Head Start/Head Start effectiveness has found gains for program participants in which of the following areas:

A) Language, literacy, and social skills.
B) Parent income level.
C) Higher intelligence tests.
D) Relationships with siblings.

Question 14

Of the following on-going program goals, which is NOT part of the current trends:

A) Increased teacher credential and percentage of teachers earning college degrees.
B) Reducing the enrollment of children with identified disabilities and children who are homeless.
C) Comprehensive and holistic learning goals.
D) Program assessment and accountability.