A national observer team surveyed 335 Head Start Centers during an 8-week summer period to locate useful innovations and developments in preschool education methods which might have future implications for the whole educational system. Team reports agreed that the programs had been more successful in bolstering the social and emotional needs of the children than in the advancement of their intellectual skills. The interaction of the preschoolers with their teachers and teacher aides, whether these were teenagers or adults, was critically important in establishing an acceptable learning environment. Contact with older persons able to respond quickly to children's questions and needs for attention encouraged and reinforced development. Male teenage aides were especially valuable as many of the children did not have satisfactory father contacts at home. It was generally agreed that the essential training and experience in preschool education could be given in inservice programs or in short institute sessions. Learning by doing was stressed by all Centers, and adolescent, parent, and community involvement in the educative process was suggested by the survey report. (MS)