A Level Sociology Education AQA Practice Exam

What was a key feature of the Operation Head Start program in the USA during the 1960s?

1. Employment training for parents

2. Pre-school education and medical screenings

3. Advanced educational scholarships

4. Building new schools in urban areas

The correct answer is: Pre-school education and medical screenings

The key feature of the Operation Head Start program in the USA during the 1960s was its focus on providing pre-school education and medical screenings. This initiative was launched as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty" and aimed specifically at supporting underprivileged children from low-income families. The program recognized the critical importance of early childhood education in fostering a child's cognitive and social development. Alongside educational support, Operation Head Start also included health-related services such as medical and nutritional screenings to address the comprehensive needs of children and help improve their overall well-being. This dual approach of education and health assistance was designed to close the gap for disadvantaged children, enabling them to enter the formal education system better prepared. Other options, while relevant to various forms of social support, do not capture the essence of what made Operation Head Start distinctive during that period. For instance, employing parents is not a core function of the program, advanced scholarships came later for higher education, and building new schools was not specifically a focus of this initiative. Thus, the emphasis on pre-school education and health services truly defines the Operation Head Start program's key contributions during the 1960s.