For Parents

December 2002

What is the difference between the "High Scope" and "STEP" Head Start Curriculum? Why are we changing?

High Scope emphasized early literacy learning, numeric awareness and kindergarten readiness through play, socializing with others, child-directed planning of activities, recall and talking about their day with their classmates. Project STEP focuses on spending more time each day on specific early literacy, numbers awareness and phonetics activities in preparation for kindergarten. STEP denotes Head Start's Summer Teacher Education Program to require literacy and language training for Head Start teachers.

Learning occurs in many ways; children and people are individuals and heir learning needs and styles differ. High Scope is a more learner centered approach and STEP may lean towards a more teacher centered approach because more time may devoted to certain specific literacy activities then in the past.

As far as the early childhood development Head Start program, perhaps a more accurate description is to say, we are continuing to upgrade the skills of our teachers to better prepare the children for kindergarten as mandated by law. The 1999 reauthorization of the Head Start Act required development and implementation of early literacy, language and numeric awareness performance standards. Staff and teacher education has been a continuing process for a number years assure a high quality program. The STEP Project is part of The Bush Administration's Early Childhood Initiative: Good Start, Grow Smart Program .