Foreword

Administration for Children and Families
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Office of Head Start

The National Head Start Child Development Institute, held in Washington, DC, December 4-8, 2000, was a hallmark training event for over 3,200 education leaders from Head Start and Early Head Start grantees and delegate Agencies throughout the country. The week-long professional seminar was grounded in the Head Start Program Performance Standards and the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework. The goal of the Institute was to increase the knowledge and leadership skills of local program managers in these key ways:

• Supporting child development and learning in domains of language development, literacy, mathematics, science, creative arts, social and emotional development, approaches to learning, and physical health and development;
• Supporting school readiness and positive child outcomes in Early Head Start and Head Start through comprehensive child development services, age-appropriate meaningful curriculum, child observation and assessment, family involvement and parterships; and
• Enhancing the quality, intentionality, and effectiveness of staff interactions with children and families.

This multimedia educational package is intended to provide you with the means to continue the learning opportunities started at the National Head Start Child Development Institute. Each area of content and each faculty member is represented here, along with supplementary materials that provide for a complete learning experience. I think you will find that using the content of this multimedia package will help you in "ensuring quality and accountability through leadership."

Douglas Klafehn
Acting Associate Commissioner
Office of Head Start