The Culturally Disadvantaged Program

The Culturally Disadvantaged Program was based on a research question that probed why some young people had low IQ scores. The lead academic producing this research had posited that certain students, many of them Black children living in "slum areas," were not able to do well on IQ tests, even after five to six years of formal education. [1] The Culturally Disadvantaged program was created to facilitate readiness initiatives that claimed to prepare children for first grade. Three elementary schools in Fairfax County participated in the Culturally Disadvantaged study, including Eleven Oaks. These institutions were selected (or stigmatized) because they apparently served communities that fit the "deprivation" profile, although it is unclear what criteria was used to delineate attritibutes of "culturally disadvantaged" test subjects.[2] 

The Head Start Program

This program was offered to "culturally disadvantaged" children in Fairfax. Its purpose was to offer preschool experience to "deprived children" who could benefit from better nutrition, psychological and social services, health screenings, and early classroom experiences.[3]

The goals of Head Start appear below: [4]

1. Help children develop into happy, well-adjusted, socially responsible people.

2. Develop improved communication skills.

3. Raise the children’s level of aspiration.

4. Promote better health among children.

5. Encourage better attitudes by the parents toward the educational attainment of their children.

6. Develop teacher understanding of and respect for the underprivileged child.

7. Develop neighborhood and community concern for the underprivileged child.

By Alexis Massenburg

[1]  R. J, Capobianco, “A Pilot Project for Culturally Disadvantaged Preschool Children,” The Journal of Special Education 1, no. 2 (1966): 191–95. https://doi.org/10.1177/002246696600100210.

[2] R.J. Capobianco, “A Pilot Project for Culturally Disadvantaged Preschool Children,” The Journal of Special Education 1, no. 2 (1966): 191–95. https://doi.org/10.1177/002246696600100210.

[3] "Head Start 1967-1968," Fairfax, County Virginia Public Schools, 1968.

[4] "Head Start 1967-1968," Fairfax, County Virginia Public Schools. 1968.