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

FACES provides national information about Head Start programs and participants. Beginning in 1997, a series of nationally representative samples of Head Start children and their families, classrooms, and programs has described the population served by Head Start; staff qualifications, credentials, and opinions; Head Start classroom practices and quality measures; and the experiences and well-being of children and families. FACES studies have included assessments that measure children's cognitive skills, social-emotional skills, and physical status; observations of classroom quality; and surveys of children's parents, teachers, center directors, and program directors. The Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES 2014) Contextual Variables Data File contains 28 contextual, community-level variables about 399 Head Start centers included in the FACES 2014 study sample. It does not contain data collected as part of the FACES 2014 study; instead, it contains information from publicly available data sources and is designed to merge with other FACES 2014 data files to enhance the understanding of Head Start center communities. The contextual variables data describe characteristics of the census tract or block group in which Head Start centers are located. The contextual variables include three index variables constructed by research institutions, 24 demographic and socioeconomic variables derived from the American Community Survey (ACS), and a measure of rural/urban status from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The FACES 2014 Contextual Variables Data File is intended to be used with the other FACES 2014 data files. For example, in conjunction with the other FACES 2014 data, these data could be used to: describe the characteristics of neighborhoods where children attend Head Start, describe how children's experiences or Head Start quality differ by neighborhood characteristics, or explore associations among neighborhoods, Head Start experiences, and child and family well-being.