The Birth of Head Start - by Maris A Vinovskis (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

One of the most popular and enduring legacies of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society programs, Project Head Start continues to support young children of low-income families-close to one million annually-by providing a range of developmental and educational services. Yet as Head Start reaches its fortieth anniversary, debates over the function and scope of this federal program persist. Although the program's importance is unquestioned across party lines, the direction of its future--whether toward a greater focus on school readiness and literacy or the continuation of a holistic approach-remains a point of contention.

Policymakers proposing to reform Head Start often invoke its origins to justify their position, but until now no comprehensive political history of the program has existed. Maris A. Vinovskis here provides an in-depth look at the nation's largest and best known--yet politically challenged--early education program. The Birth of Head Start sets the record straight on the program's intended aims, documenting key decisions made during its formative years. While previous accounts of Head Start have neglected the contributions of important participants such as federal education officials and members of Congress, Vinovskis's history is the first to consider the relationship between politics and policymaking and how this interaction has shaped the program. This thorough and incisive book will be essential for policymakers and legislators interested in prekindergarten education and will inform future discussions on early intervention services for disadvantaged children.

From the Back Cover

One of the most popular and enduring legacies of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society programs, Project Head Start continues to support close to one million young children of low-income families annually by providing a range of developmental and educational services. Yet as Head Start reaches its fortieth anniversary, debates over the function and scope of this federal program persist. Although the program's importance is unquestioned across party lines, the direction of its future-whether to focus more on school readiness and literacy or to continue its holistic approach-remains a point of contention.

Policymakers proposing to reform Head Start often invoke its origins to justify their position, but until now no comprehensive political history of the program has existed. Maris A. Vinovskis here provides an in-depth look at the nation's largest and best known-yet politically contested-early education program. The Birth of Head Start sets the record straight on the program's intended aims, documenting key decisions made during its formative years. It brings to light the previously neglected contributions of key participants, such as federal education officials and members of Congress, and offers the first sustained consideration of how politics and policymaking have shaped the program. This thorough and incisive book will be essential for policymakers and legislators interested in prekindergarten education, and it will inform future discussions on early intervention services for disadvantaged children.

Review Quotes

"Maris Vinovskis''s study of Head Start is certain to affect debates about the future of the program. Vinovskis''s careful and intelligent review of the intentions of Head Start''s founders is a necessary starting point for anyone who hopes to understand the evolution of the program."--Diane Ravitch, author of "Left Back: A Century of Failed School Reforms"


"Vinovskis has discovered primary sources that shed much new light on the origins of Head Start. Given the importance of preschool education and the high stakes associated with the Head Start program, Vinovskis''s book deserves to be read by a wide audience. He has produced an impressive piece of scholarship, a major contribution to the field."--Barbara Beatty, author of P"reschool Education in America"


"Vinovskis is recognized as the premier historian of children''s programs. His renowned scholarship makes everything he writes must-reading for anyone involved in early childhood issues. "The Birth of Head Start" is a tremendous contribution to the preservation of the history of our nation''s innovative Head Start program."
--Edward Zigler, cofounder of Head Start


"Vinovskis''s history of Head Start is a shining example of the importance of understanding the origins of social programs in order to provide a solid ground for future decision making. It shows that the conflict between comprehensive services and school readiness, a debate that is still raging today, has been a part of Head Start from the beginning. It is unlikely that there will ever be another study of the origins of Head Start that is as balanced, probing, and complete as this spectacular volume."--Ron Haskins, The Brookings Institution

"Maris Vinovskis's study of Head Start is certain to affect debates about the future of the program. Vinovskis's careful and intelligent review of the intentions of Head Start's founders is a necessary starting point for anyone who hopes to understand the evolution of the program."--Diane Ravitch, author of "Left Back: A Century of Failed School Reforms"


"Vinovskis's history of Head Start is a shining example of the importance of understanding the origins of social programs in order to provide a solid ground for future decision making. It shows that the conflict between comprehensive services and school readiness, a debate that is still raging today, has been a part of Head Start from the beginning. It is unlikely that there will ever be another study of the origins of Head Start that is as balanced, probing, and complete as this spectacular volume."--Ron Haskins, The Brookings Institution

About the Author

Maris A. Vinovskis is the Bentley Professor of History at the University of Michigan, where he is also a member of the faculty of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the Institute for Social Research. He has written and edited numerous books, including History and Educational Policymaking and Learning from the Past: What History Teaches Us about School Reform.