Head Start: An outcome study on literacy and mathematical skills among Latino Head Start children

The purpose of this study was to examine the improvement of Latino children in one Los Angeles County Head Start program over the course of one year. More specifically, it examined improvement in literacy and mathematical skills as measured by the Desired Results Developmental Profile+ (DRDP+). The disparity between pretest-posttest DRDP+ scores measuring literacy and mathematical skills between primary Spanish speaking children and primary English speaking children was also examined. In addition, the disparity between pretest-posttest DRDP+ scores measuring literacy and mathematical skills between primary Spanish speaking children and primary English speaking children and years enrolled in head start was also examined.; The final sample included two hundred twenty-six Latino children. All children were between the ages of 3 to 5 years old, and all were attending a Head Start program in Los Angeles County. There were four hypotheses explored in this study.; The first and second hypotheses predicted that there would be significant difference in mean scores on the DRDP+ between pretest and posttest on literacy and mathematical skills. In both cases, the results demonstrated a statistical difference between fall scores and spring scores.; The third hypothesis predicted that pretest-posttest disparity on Literacy and Mathematic levels for primary Spanish speakers would be greater than English speakers. Hypothesis three was supported as stated, but interestingly primary Spanish and primary English speaking children had similar mean scores at posttest.; The fourth hypothesis stated that pretest-posttest disparity on Literacy and Mathematic levels between primary Spanish and primary English speakers would be less as the number of years enrolled in Head Start increased from 1 to 2. Although there was statistical significance in the interaction between time, language, and years attended hypothesis 4 was not supported.; An ancillary analysis was conducted to compare the mean scores between pretest and posttest on each Child Desired Result section which consisted of (1) Children are personally and socially competent, (2) Children are effective learners, (3) Children show physical and motor competence, and (4) Children are safe and healthy. Results showed a statistical significance in all four sections.