The Progress Report

The Progress Reports in Reports 8-10 provide a summary of children's progress between two points in time for the Language and Literacy, Math, and Social and Emotional Development Scales. For illustrative purposes, this report documents actual observations taken on Head Start children within a 6 week period prior to November 15th, 2001 and April 17th, 2002. The same children were assessed within each period. Each Progress Report shows the number of children at different achievement levels (e.g., beginning, intermediate, advanced) at the time data was aggregated for the Profile. Children at the beginning level have acquired up to 1/3 of the capabilities assessed with any given scale. Children in the intermediate level have acquired between 1/3 and 2/3 of the capabilities assessed with any given scale. Children at the advanced level have acquired 2/3 to all the capabilities assessed by a scale.

Documentation of children's progress benefits all the stakeholders in Head Start. For example, progress information helps administrators to evaluate the extent to which educational plans are working and agreed upon goals are being achieved. Progress information helps to ensure that classrooms and centers are meeting the needs of children through the provision of goal-directed learning opportunities. Progress information provides a way to inform policy-makers that state and/or federally legislated child outcomes are being met. Progress information conveys important news about children's accomplishments to families and community.

A Story with a Beginning, Middle, and… Positive Pattern Emerging

Report 8: Language and Literacy: Sample = 3355

November 2001. 1625 children were at the beginning level, 1314 at the intermediate level, and 416 at the advanced level capabilities.

5 months later. The number of children in the advanced level more than doubled to 1074 and the number of children at the beginning level was reduced by almost two-thirds to 654.

Report 9: Early Math: Sample = 3352

November 2001. 1989 children were at the beginning level, 1145 at the intermediate level, and 218 at the advanced level.

5 months later. The number of children in the advanced level more than tripled to 692 and the number of children at the beginning level was reduced by almost half to 1132.

Report 10: Social and Emotional Development: Sample = 2852

November 2001. 1055 children were at the beginning level, 1114 at the intermediate level, and 683 at the advanced level.

5 months later. The number of children in the advanced level almost doubled to 1231, and the number of children at the beginning level decreased by almost half to 574.