The Development and Insights of the Parent Participation Policy in the “Head Start Program”

通过聚焦“开端计划”家长参与政策的发展、特征及启示，以期为我国“家长参与”的深化发展提供思路，推动我国学前教育质量的提升。其发展历程分为三个阶段：20世纪六七十年代创建，家长参与从辅助角色逐步走向决策层面；20世纪八九十年代拓展，参与人群和方式更加多样化；21世纪以来深化，强调家庭读写能力提升，且服务范围扩大。其特征表现为：政策法制化完善，内容丰富且涉及机构健全，惠及家长与幼儿。其对我国的启示包括：重视家长参与教育的作用，完善政策法规，建立贫困儿童保护机制，加大对家长的教育培训力度，构建科学评估体系。This paper focuses on the development, characteristics, and insights of the parent participation policy in the “Head Start Program”, aiming to provide ideas for the in-depth development of “parent participation” in China and promote the improvement of early childhood education quality in the country. The development of the policy is divided into three stages: the establishment in the 1960s and 1970s, during which parent participation evolved from a supportive role to a decision-making level; the expansion in the 1980s and 1990s, characterized by more diverse participants and methods; and the deepening since the 21st century, with an emphasis on enhancing family literacy and expanding the scope of services. The characteristics of the policy include the perfection of policy legalization, rich content, and a well-developed organizational structure, benefiting both parents and children. The insights for China include the importance of recognizing the role of parent participation in education, improving policy and legal frameworks, establishing protection mechanisms for children in poverty, increasing educational training for parents, and constructing a scientific evaluation system.