National Head Start Association

National Head Start Association
Name	National Head Start Association
Formation	1975
Type	Nonprofit advocacy association
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	United States
Leader title	President & CEO

National Head Start Association

The National Head Start Association is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that represents leaders, professionals, and stakeholders involved with the federal Head Start initiative, interacting with institutions such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Congress, and state agencies in capitals like Sacramento, California and Austin, Texas. It convenes conferences in venues such as the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and engages with foundations including the Ford Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York to align early childhood initiatives with research from universities such as Harvard University, University of Chicago, and Columbia University. The association traces roots amid policy debates involving representatives from administrations like the Carter administration and legislative actions including the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007.

History

The organization's formation occurred in the wake of federal programs initiated during the Johnson administration and early program evaluations conducted by scholars affiliated with Yale University and University of Michigan. Early leaders interacted with advocacy networks linked to movements represented by organizations such as the National Urban League, the Children's Defense Fund, and the NAACP. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the association participated in regulatory discussions alongside officials from the Office of Management and Budget and hearings before committees of the United States House Committee on Education and Labor and the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The group adapted to policy changes following landmark reports from research centers like the Brookings Institution and the RAND Corporation and engaged in partnerships reflecting models promoted by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Mission and Programs

The association promotes quality early childhood services consistent with standards advocated by organizations such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Society for Research in Child Development. Programmatic emphases include workforce development drawing on curricula from institutions like Bank Street College of Education and professional credentialing techniques found in materials from the Council for Professional Recognition. Professional development events include keynote addresses by figures linked to Office of Head Start leaders, panels with researchers from University of Pennsylvania and Vanderbilt University, and training sessions modeled after initiatives by the World Bank on human capital. The association supports program models influenced by demonstrations such as the Perry Preschool Project and the HighScope curriculum, and references assessment tools developed in partnership with entities like the National Institutes of Health.

Governance and Leadership

Governance comprises a board that includes executives from regional grantees, directors of programs in cities like New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and representatives from tribal grantees such as those associated with the Navajo Nation and the Cherokee Nation. Leadership has liaised with leaders from philanthropic organizations like the Kellogg Foundation and legal advisors experienced with statutes including the Head Start Act. Past presidents and CEOs have testified before panels chaired by members of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations and collaborated with local officials including mayors from cities such as Philadelphia and Houston. The association maintains bylaws and governance practices comparable to nonprofit standards advanced by organizations like Independent Sector and the National Council of Nonprofits.

Advocacy and Policy Influence

The association engages in advocacy campaigns during appropriations cycles involving the United States House Committee on Appropriations and the Office of Management and Budget, and provides testimony referencing research from think tanks including the Urban Institute and the Economic Policy Institute. It files comments on rulemakings administered by the Administration for Children and Families and lobbies on legislative language in bills introduced by members of Congress from delegations such as those of California's congressional delegation and New York's congressional delegation. The organization forms coalitions with groups like the United Way and the National Governors Association and participates in public-private dialogues with corporations formerly engaged with early childhood initiatives such as Microsoft and Google. It also responds to national crises by coordinating with emergency management entities like the Federal Emergency Management Agency and public health institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding streams include membership dues from grantees, revenue from conferences held in partnership with venues such as the McCormick Place, and grants or contracts from foundations including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the William T. Grant Foundation, and philanthropic arms of corporations formerly allied with early childhood philanthropy like the Walmart Foundation. The association partners with research universities including Stanford University and Johns Hopkins University for program evaluation, and collaborates with state agencies in jurisdictions such as Florida and Ohio. It has secured project funding tied to initiatives supported by entities like the Pew Charitable Trusts and medical partnerships with hospitals affiliated with Mayo Clinic and university medical centers.

Impact and Evaluation

The association publishes reports and white papers citing analyses from evaluators at institutions such as the Mathematica Policy Research and the Hamilton Project, and highlights program outcomes measured using metrics developed in collaboration with the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine. Impact assessments often reference longitudinal studies akin to the Chicago Longitudinal Study and national surveys conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics and the Census Bureau. The association's influence is measured through indicators including funding levels approved by Congress, program quality benchmarks promoted in state plans filed with the Administration for Children and Families, and workforce credential attainment tracked against standards from the Council for Exceptional Children.

Category:Early childhood education in the United States Category:Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C.