Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-9-2026
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Public Policy Leadership
First Advisor
Melissa Bass
Second Advisor
Younghee Lim
Third Advisor
Elizabeth Sweeney
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Head Start plays a vital role in supporting children from low-income families by providing comprehensive early education, health, nutrition, and family support services. Decades of research demonstrate that participation in Head Start improves cognitive development, social-emotional skills, and long-term educational outcomes. However, a growing body of research suggests that Head Start funding may be insufficient to fully meet the needs of eligible children, raising concerns about program capacity, staffing, and service quality, particularly in high-poverty states that provide no direct state supplemental funding, like Mississippi. This study examines the extent to which Mississippi’s Head Start programs have the resources necessary to effectively serve children and families. It focuses on how funding structures influence staffing, classroom quality, student support services, and overall program capacity. To do so, this research draws on qualitative perspectives from administrators, teachers, service providers, and parents directly connected to children enrolled in Head Start. Through in-depth interviews, participants share their experiences regarding funding levels, resource allocation, staffing, and the everyday realities of delivering services to vulnerable children and families. Findings reveal several key themes: funding uncertainty contributes to staffing instability and recruitment difficulties, resource constraints limit access to specialized services, and program leaders report that community need exceeds available capacity. At the same time, participants consistently emphasize the transformative impact Head Start has on children and families. These findings suggest that while Head Start remains an essential and effective early childhood program, insufficient and unstable funding may restrict its ability to deliver consistently high-quality services to all eligible children in Mississippi. This thesis concludes with policy recommendations aimed at strengthening funding stability, increasing state-level investment, and improving resource allocation to better support early childhood outcomes in economically vulnerable communities.
Recommended Citation
Nichols, Anna Carlisle, "Funding & Resource Adequacy in Mississippi Head Start Programs: Perspectives from the Field" (2026). Honors Theses. 3411.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3411
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