The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in opinion between early childhood professionals and low income parents of young children as to what the goals of early childhood programs should be. Three hundred forty parents in local Head Start centers were asked to list goals for their preschool children, and a questionnaire was developed, using the 30 most frequently mentioned goals. This instrument, the Lewis Goal Sort, was sent to 4,119 parents in rural and urban Head Start Programs in California and to 78 early childhood experts. It was hypothesized that there would be a difference in opinion as to what the priority goals in early childhood programs should be (1) between early childhood experts and parents; (2) among white, black, and Spanish-speaking mothers; (3) between younger and older mothers; (4) between mothers who have been in Head Start Programs before and new Head Start mothers; (5) between mothers who participate frequently in their child's Head Start classroom and mothers who do not participate often; and (6) among white, black, and Spanish-speaking fathers. Analysis of the 1,619 useable parents' questionnaires and the 26 experts' questionnaires returned indicated that: while hypotheses (1) and (2) were supported and (4) and (6) were partially supported, hypotheses (3) and (5) were not supported. Suggestions for improving parent involvement in Head Start Programs are discussed. (Author/MP)