1998 Region IV Profile of Enrollment of Children with Disabilities

1998 Region IV Profile of Enrollment of Children with Disabilities

	Total Funded Enrollment in Head Start	Total Actual Enrollment in Head Start	Total Number of Children With Professionally Diagnosed Disability	% of Funded Enrollment With Professionally Diagnosed Disability*	Number of Disabled Children Professionally Diagnosed Prior to Enrollment	% of Disabled Professionally Diagnosed Prior to Enrollment
Alabama	15,026	16,157	2,134	14.2%	890	41.7%
Florida	28,248	31,036	3,633	12.9%	1215	33.4%
Georgia	19,562	21,490	2,441	12.5%	934	38.3%
Kentucky	14,845	16,649	2,752	18.5%	1177	42.8%
Mississippi	23,959	25,160	2,974	12.4%	690	23.2%
North Carolina	15,794	16,968	2,735	17.3%	1150	42.0%
South Carolina	10,233	11,007	1,504	14.7%	498	33.1%
Tennessee	13,558	15,156	1,920	14.2%	696	36.3%
REGION	141, 225	153, 623	20,093	14.2%	7250	36.1%

*Calculated by Performance Indicator formula as the total number of children with professionally diagnosed disability as a proportion of the total funded enrollment.

In 1997-98 each of the eight states in Region IV met the congressional mandate that at least 10% of Head Start's enrollment be allocated to children with professionally diagnosed disabilities. The states which led the region with the highest percentage of total funded enrollment of children with disabilities were Kentucky (18.5%) and North Carolina (17.3%).

The total number of professionally diagnosed children with disabilities served in Region IV in 1997-98 was reported to be 20,093 or 14.2% of the total funded enrollment of 141,225. This percentage is slightly higher than the 13.6% of the previous year primarily due to the fact that the formula for computing the percentage has changed. In previous years, the number of children who dropped out during the year was subtracted from the total number of diagnosed children.

Over thirty-six percent (36.1 %) of these children were professionally diagnosed prior to enrollment.

Over seven thousand (7,250) children had diagnostic reports when they entered Head Start. Kentucky led the region in this category with 42.8%. North Carolina followed with 42.0%

Head Start regulations emphasize the importance of a comprehensive recruitment campaign which includes a focus on children with professionally-diagnosed disabilities. Head Start's enrollment of children who have had the benefits of diagnostic services has important advantages:

Children with the most obvious needs will be assured the benefits of a comprehensive individualized developmental program.

Children will begin to receive specialized Head Start services as soon as they enter the program.

Head Start staff will have time to prepare for special needs children

The parents of children with disabilities will feel welcome and supported as soon as possible.

Head Start programs are encouraged to target a comprehensive array of local agencies for recruitment with a systematic campaign of public awareness that "Head Start serves children with disabilities, too!"