Summary: Head Start, one of the most popular federal early childhood programs, has delivered comprehensive services to about 16 million low-income preschoolers during the past 33 years. Since its inception, Head Start costs have totaled $35 billion, and its annual funding has increased substantially in recent years. The administration recently proposed a significant funding increase for Head Start to expand the program's annual enrollment to one million children by 2002. At the same time, Congress, the executive branch, and taxpayers have become more concerned about ensuring the accountability of federal programs. This report evaluates how the Department of Health and Human Services ensures that Head Start programs are held accountable for complying with laws and regulations and for achieving program results. GAO discusses (1) the extent to which Head Start's mission, goals, and objectives provide an overall framework that emphasizes compliance with applicable laws and regulations and achievement of program results; (2) how well Head Start's processes ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and (3) how well Head Start's processes ensure the ability to determine whether the program's purposes have been achieved. GAO summarized this report in testimony before Congress; see: Head Start: Challenges Faced in Demonstrating Program Results and Responding to Societal Changes, by Carlotta C. Joyner, Director of Education and Employment Issues, before the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families, House Committee on Education and the Workforce. GAO/T-HEHS-98-183, June 9 (13 pages).
