Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES), United States, 2014-2017

The 2014 Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey, or FACES 2014, is the sixth in a series of national studies of Head Start, with earlier studies conducted in 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009. This release includes nationally representative samples of Head Start programs and centers, classrooms, children and their families through spring of 2017. Data from surveys of Head Start program and center directors, classroom teachers, and parents provided descriptive information about program policies and practices, classroom activities, and the background and experiences of Head Start staff and families. Classroom observations were used to assess the quality of Head Start classrooms. Children in the study participated in a direct assessment that provided a picture of their school readiness skills at different time points.
FACES 2014 used a new study design that differs from earlier rounds of FACES in several important ways: (1) it included larger program and classroom samples, (2) all data were collected in a single program year, (3) the baseline sample of children included both children enrolled in their first and second year of Head Start, and (4) several special studies were conducted along with the main (Core) study to collect more detailed information about a given topic, to study new populations of Head Start programs and participants, and to evaluate measures for possible use in future rounds of FACES. For example, the Family Engagement Plus study collected information from parents and staff (teachers and family services staff) on family engagement efforts and service provision in Head Start programs.
The Office of Head Start, the Administration for Children and Families, other federal agencies, local programs, and the public have depended on FACES for valid and reliable national information on (1) the skills and abilities of Head Start children, (2) how Head Start children's skills and abilities compare with preschool children nationally, (3) Head Start children's readiness for and subsequent performance in kindergarten, and (4) the characteristics of the children's home and classroom environments. The FACES study was designed to enable researchers to answer a wide range of research questions that are crucial for aiding program managers and policymakers. Some of the questions that are central to FACES include:

What are the demographic characteristics of the population of children and families served by Head Start? How has the population served by Head Start changed?
What are the experiences of families and children in the Head Start program? How have they changed?
What are the cognitive and social skills of Head Start children at the beginning and end of the program year? Has Head Start program performance improved over time?
What are the qualifications of Head Start teachers in terms of education, experience, and credentials? Are average teacher education levels rising in Head Start?
What is the observed quality of Head Start classrooms as early learning environments, including the level and range of teaching and interactions, provisions for learning, emotional and instructional support, and classroom organization? How has quality changed over time?
What program- and classroom-level factors are related to observed classroom quality?
How is observed quality related to children's outcomes and developmental gains?

The User Guide provides detailed information about the FACES 2014 study design, execution, and data to inform and assist researchers who may be interested in using the data for future analyses. The following items are provided in the User Guide as appendices.

Appendix A - Elements Of The FACES Design And Key Measures Used (And Child Outcomes Captured): FACES 1997 - FACES 2014
Appendix B - Copyright Permissions
Appendix C - Instrument Content Matrices
Appendix D - Instruments
Appendix E - Spring 2015 Center/Program Codebook
Appendix F - Spring 2015 Classroom/Teacher Codebook
Appendix G - 2014-2015 Child Codebook
Appendix H - Spring 2015 Family Engagement Family Service Staff Interview Codebook
Appendix I - Spring 2015 Family Engagement Parent Interview Codebook
Appendix J - Spring 2017 Center/Program Codebook
Appendix K - Spring 2017 Classroom/Teacher Codebook
Appendix L - Descriptions of Constructed/Derived Variables
Appendix M - Synthetic Estimation for Child Growth Across Two Years