Federal devolution of authority and the Head Start program in rural New England

Under a devolved federal government, it is likely that administrative power for the Head Start program---as with many social welfare programs---would shift from federal to state governments. Some researchers have suggested this shift could threaten the more comprehensive components of Head Start, particularly its emphases on parental involvement and on maintaining the cognitive and physical health of its students.; Prekindergarten programs are administered at the state and local levels. I used prekindergarten programs as a model for the quality and accessibility of state administered Head Start programs under a devolved system.; Based on this model, the classroom environment of a devolved Head Start program would most likely offer more highly educated instructors. Head Start would also continue to include mental and physical health screenings. Unfortunately, components of prekindergarten programs also suggest that Head Start would be offered for fewer hours each day and that parental involvement would be reduced.