An Overview of Head Start Literacy Initiatives 1991-2000

In FY 1991, Head Start grantees received $9 million in an ongoing budget increase to support parents' efforts to address their adult literacy needs. These funds can be used to support the participation of Head Start parents in literacy programs, for example, by providing transportation or child care, and for staff to implement family literacy efforts.
From 1992 through 1997, the Head Start Bureau supported an Interagency Agreement with the Library of Congress and the Association for Library Services to Children. The project was designed to demonstrate how libraries can plan and work with Head Start grantees to enhance learning and parent involvement in children's literacy and language development. The Agreement produced a video package to encourage Head Start staff to integrate books and other library resources into learning experiences in Head Start and the child's home.
In 1995, the Head Start Bureau funded three demonstration projects to support and strengthen literacy activities carried out by local Head Start grantees. The University of Idaho, Western Illinois University and Children's Literacy Initiative of Philadelphia produced training videos and other materials, conducted in-service training via satellite distance learning technologies, and provided on-site training to a number of Head Start grantees.
Through a grant with WGBH Public Television in Boston, the Head Start Bureau produced a video and a set of materials to help parents enhance their skills in facilitating children's early language, literacy and learning, including a focus on active forms of learning and alternatives to television viewing.
Fifty-two Head Start State Collaboration Offices include family literacy as one of eight priority areas. They work to build bridges between Head Start, Early Head Start, Even Start and other family literacy resources and agencies.
A network of 26 Head Start Quality Improvement and Disability Services Quality Improvement Centers (HSQICs & DSQICs) provides training and technical assistance in a variety of forms on literacy and family literacy.
Head Start has funded the production of literacy material, such as Language and Literacy: Links to Social Competence and Learning which is a skill-based training guide. It is designed to help Head Start staff collaborate with families and support the development of children's literacy and language skills of listening, speaking, and emergent reading and writing.
Head Start participated in the AMERICA READS CHALLENGE, including disseminating READY * SET * READ For Families and For Staff. This material contains early childhood language activities for children from birth through age five

Further Information about these projects and materials can be obtained from the Head Start Information and Publication Center at P.O. Box 26417, Alexandria, VA 22313.