NHSA

Update

Victoria JonesSenior Manager of Data & Research

National Head Start Association

NHSA’s Data Design Initiative:

Building Capacity for Data Analysis and Continuous Improvement

July 25, 2018

Sponsored byShared governance

Parent/family engagement

Providing comprehensive

services—such as health, mental health,

& nutrition—to the whole family

Federal to local funding

Serving the most vulnerable children and families

Developmentally appropriate

early childhood education

Birth to 5 model

Robust performance standards

Culture of understanding

and respect

Head Start’s Core Components

1,055,972Children aged zero to five were served

by Head Start and Early Head Start grantees and delegate agencies in 2017

Services for the whole child and family

To Lead.

To be the untiring voice that will not be quiet

until every vulnerable child is served with the

Head Start model of support for the whole child,

the family, and the community.

NHSA’s Vision for Head Start

To Advocate.

To work diligently for policy changes

that ensure all vulnerable children and

families have what they need to

succeed.

NHSA’s Vision for Head Start

To coalesce, inspire, and support the Head Start

field as a leader in early childhood development

and education

NHSA’s Mission

We are compelled to fulfill this mission by the promise of all

possible outcomes:

• One powerful, united Head Start voice

• A collegial, collaborative Head Start field

• Nonpartisan support of an increased federal commitment to

Head Start

• Healthier, empowered children and families, and stronger,

more vibrant communities

So far in 2018, 17 Members of Congress have visited a Head Start center

So far in 2018, NHSA has generated more than a dozen articles, op-eds and blogswritten by alumni and supporters throughout the country

Who does NHSA speak for? NHSA represents the unified voice of 1,600 grantees, 250,000 staff and 1 million children.

More than 1,000 Head Start parents, staff, and alumni made their voice heard in Washington, D.C. at NHSA’s Families Unite for Head Start Hill Day and Spirit Rally.

The HeadStarter Network hosted a Tech & Early Ed Incubator to bring experts together to elevate Head Start’s future

A 1.3 billion dollar increase for Head Start in FY18, continuing with the consistent increases to Head Start

NHSA’s Impact

The Head Start community celebrates Congressional support for Head Start with a rally on Capitol Hill

Moneyball for Head Start

The Data Design Initiative aims to bring

down the barriers that are hindering

programs’ abilities to collect, analyze, and

share data and other evidence.

Data Design Initiative

Data Design Initiative

• Two-day Data Design Huddle in December 2017

• Practitioners, Office of Head Start, vendors,

researchers, and data systems experts

• Goals:

o Examine current state of data and data systems

o Identify barriers impeding use for quality

improvement

o Brainstorm projects to bring about short- and

long-term change

Data Design Initiative

Project Categories:

o People

o Data Improvement

o Information System Improvement

o Knowledge and Learning

Enhancement

o Policy

Project Spotlight

Helping Children Thrive through

Community-Led Outcome Metrics

• Advance Innovator “Top Idea” winner of

the Early Childhood Innovation Prize

• Open-source, interoperable modules to

tackle data infrastructure issues

• Coordinated multi-site pilot effort

• Identifying data principles/standards

and outcome metrics

Project Spotlight

Better, Simpler Child Assessments

• Improve information and efficiency…

o Reduce time spent on conducting

and training on child assessments

o Improve fidelity and reduce

subjectivity

• By…

o Piloting abridged versions of tools

o Exploring ‘gamified’ screenings and

assessments

Project Spotlight

“Yelp for Head Start”

• Yelp/Amazon/Consumer Reports

o Reviews of software, curricula,

trainers, consultants, etc.

o Improve purchasing decisions

o Provide space to provide feedback

and exchange troubleshooting tips

Questions?