A descriptive study of the academic progress of Head Start teachers seeking AS degrees at Indian River Community College (Florida)

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the quality improvement staffing mandate contained in the 1998 federal Head Start Reauthorization Act on the Head Start teachers in Indian River County. Section 648A of that act requires that “by September 30, 2003, at least 50% of all Head Start teachers in center-based programs must have an associate (AS) or advanced degree (BS) in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or in a related field with pre-school teaching experience” (www.acf.dhhs.gov, 1999). Following the suggestions from the federal government to enter into collaborative training, in the fall of 1999 a cohort group of 21 Head Start teachers began work on their AS degrees at Indian River Community College.; This study used descriptive, qualitative research techniques to examine the attitudes of the cohort group mid-stream as they pursue their AS degree at IRCC. Profiles of seven participants in the cohort group are contained in Chapter Four. The questions of this study are focused on how “successful” these members of the original cohort group have been in attempting to complete the AS requirements by the 2003 deadline.; Covering two academic years (1999/2000 and 2000/2001), this study addressed the basic questions of how many of the original members of the cohort group are still actively enrolled at IRCC and whether they believed they would “successfully” complete the degree requirements.