This report is a summary statement about a broad-based longitudinal study being conducted by Head Start. It concerns the effects of early school experiences on over 1800 disadvantaged children, ages 4 to 8, and their families who live in four poverty areas. The report (1) raises basic questions about the nature of education, learning, and researcher; (2) explains the potential value of the study in terms of its design; (3) describes the types of information being collected and the data gathering procedures being used; (4) describes the children, families, and communities involved in the study; and (5) discusses preliminary findings and their implications. Variables important to the study are cognitive, social, personal, and physical developmental characteristics (related to differing environments) and family characteristics. (DP)