**GAO-05-343**                      Published: May 17, 2005. Publicly Released: May 17, 2005.                  

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## Highlights

In September 2003, the Head Start Bureau, in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF), implemented the National Reporting System (NRS), the first nationwide skills test of over 400,000 4- and 5-year-old children. The NRS is intended to provide information on how well Head Start grantees are helping children progress. Given the importance of the NRS, this report examines: what information the NRS is designed to provide; how the Head Start Bureau has responded to concerns raised by grantees and experts during the first year of implementation; and whether the NRS provides the Head Start Bureau with quality information.

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## Topics

Education

Aid for educationData collectionData integrityEducation program evaluationEducational standardsEducational testingFederal aid programsPreschool educationReporting requirementsSurveys