ACF (Administration for Children and
Families). The branch of the US Department of Health and Human Services that
administers Head Start and other programs focused on children and their families.
Assessment/ongoing. An ongoing process
of observation and recording initiated by teachers that provides information about
children's development (social, emotional, cognitive, fine & gross motor,
speech, & language) and identifies children's specific strengths and needs.
The results of classroom assessment provide the basis for individualizing the curriculum
for children.
CAA (Community Action Agency) or CAP
(Community Action Program). An organization, either public or private non-profit,
which is funded by the Community Services Block Grant to administer and coordinate,
on a community-wide basis, a variety of anti-poverty programs that often include
Head Start.
CACFP (Child & Adult Care Food Program). A state administered program funded by the USDA that provides financial reimbursement
and/or commodities for providing breakfast, lunch, and snacks that meet federal nutritional
requirements to income eligible children and adults. Almost all Head Start programs
use CACFP.
Center-Based Program Option. A Head
Start program option that serves the child in a center four or five days per week.
Center-based requires: class sizes of 17-20 for 4 year olds or 15-17 for 3 year olds;
class operation of 3.5 to 6 hours per day with 4 hours being optimal; minimums of
128 days/year of classroom operations for programs serving children 4 days/week and
160 days/year for children enrolled 5 days/week. All center-based programs must meet
a minimum of 32 weeks over an 8-9 month period.
CFR (Code of Federal Regulations). The numbering system used by the US government to organize and catalog all final
federal rules published in the Federal Register. All federal regulations governing
a specific federal program are codified for easy reference. For example, the number
assigned to the Head Start Program Performance Standards is 45 CFR Part 1304.
CA (Community Assessment - formerly
Community Needs Assessment). A profile of the community(ies) in which the Head
Start program operates. This profile includes data on the characteristics of the
community's population, resources, assets and needs. Programs are required
to submit an in-depth CA and the analysis of the data in relation to their program
design with their grant application in the first year of their three-year funding
cycle (every three years). Required to be updated annually, the CA provides essential
data for ongoing program design and planning.
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Community Representative. Any member
of a Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council or Committee who is not a parent
of a currently enrolled child.
Cost Allocation Plan. A systematic
approach to identify and distribute allowable costs for the various grants and contracts
a program administers.
Delegate Agency. An agency to which
responsibility is delegated by the Head Start/Early Head Start grantee for the operation
of a total, or significant portion, of the program.
DSQICs (Disabilities Services Quality
Improvement Centers). A regionally based training and technical assistance system
of 12 centers to meet the needs of all Head Start/Early Head Start grantees and delegate
agencies related to serving children with disabilities.
Double-Session Variation. A variation
of the center-based program option that operates with one teacher who works with
one group of children in the morning and a different group of children in the afternoon.
This option must comply with regulations regarding class size (see Center Based Option),
must operate for no more than 4 days/week, and must meet the 3.5 daily class operation
requirement.
Early Head Start. Established by
the Head Start Act as amended May 1994, Early Head Start is Head Start for children
and families from pre-birth to 3 years old.
Family Partnership Agreement. This
process describes family goals, responsibilities, timetables, and strategies for
achieving family goals, as well as documenting progress in achieving them. The Family
Partnership Agreement/family goal setting process must be initiated as early after
enrollment as possible and take into consideration each family's readiness
and willingness to participate in the process.
Federal Monitoring Report. The reported
findings from on-site Head Start program monitoring conducted by a federally led
monitoring team every three years to every Head Start/Early Head Start program. If
any program deficiencies are identified in the program monitoring report, programs
must respond promptly with a program improvement report.
Full-Day Variation. A variation
of the center-based program option in which the classroom serves children longer
than 6 hours/day. Before requesting and before federal approval of a full-day variation
using full Head Start funding, the grantee must demonstrate that alternative enrollment
opportunities or funding from non-Head Start sources are not available for Head Start
families needing full-day services.
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Grantee. A public or private agency
that receives funds directly from ACF to operate an Early/Head Start program.
Head Start Act. A public law passed
by Congress and signed by the President that authorizes the appropriation of funds
at specific levels and addresses the intent of the Early/Head Start program, priorities,
and types of services to be provided. The Head Start Act of 1998 authorizes program
operations for 5 years and highlights several new areas including increased expansion
of Early/Head Start, research on Head Start's effectiveness, literacy and
numeracy child competencies, and partnership.
Head Start Bureau. The division
of ACF, US Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) that administers the
Early/Head Start program. The Bureau develops and enforces regulations based on the
Head Start Act, Program Performance Standards, and other legislation.
Head Start Information Publications
Center. A resource to order Early/Head Start materials such as the Head Start
Program Performance Standards, training guides, etc. (703) 683-5769 or www.headstartinfo.org.
Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC). A required Head Start Committee that advises in the planning, operation and evaluation
of health services. The HSAC is comprised of parents, community health providers,
and other specialists in the various disciplines covered by the Head Start Performance
Standards.
HSQICs (Head Start Quality Improvement
Centers). A regionally based training and technical assistance system of 17 centers
to meet the needs of all Early/Head Start grantees and delegate agencies in all the
Early/Head Start services areas except disabilities, e.g., early childhood, health,
family & community partnerships, management, fiscal, technology, transportation,
and facilities.
Home-Based Program Option. The Early/Head
Start program option that focuses on parents as educators; includes a minimum of
32 weekly home visits per year lasting for a minimum of 1.5 hours/visit by an assigned
Home Visitor; also includes a minimum of 2 monthly socialization experiences (16/year)
for both children and parents.
Internal Dispute Resolution. A formally
adopted procedure that outlines the method by which the agency will resolve an impasse.
An impasse exists when the Early/Head Start Policy Council/Committee and the delegate/grantee
board cannot reach agreement or consensus.
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NFAA (Notice of Financial Assistance
Award). The legal document awarding a federal grant. The NFAA specifies the amount
of the award, the project period, and specific terms and conditions of the grant.
NHSA (National Head Start Association). A membership-supported organization comprised of Early/Head Start staff, parents,
directors and friends that advocates for Head Start programs, offers a system of
networking, and provides programs with training and information.
Non-Federal Share (NFS). Resources
that Early/Head Start grantees are required to generate, including cash and/or in-kind
(goods/services), which benefit the program and which are contributed by non-federal
sources without charge to the program. Twenty percent (20%) of the Early/Head Start
grant award must be a non-federal match; or $ .25 non-federal for every $1 of federal
support.
On-Site Program Monitoring. Federal
monitoring conducted by a regional team of consultants led by an ACF Program Specialist,
that determines the Early/Head Start program's compliance with Head Start
federal Standards and Policies and provides a key perspective on a program's
management and organizational, as well as service delivery, systems.
Parent Committee. A committee composed
of all parents who have children enrolled in a particular Early/Head Start
program/program option.
PIR (Program Information Report). The federal report that provides quantitative information on key characteristics
of each Early/Head Start program to ACF. Completed every spring.
PC (Policy Council). A federally
mandated council elected at the grantee level in every Early/Head Start grantee to
conduct share program governance with the board and staff. At least fifty percent
(50%) of the members must be parents of currently enrolled Early/Head Start children.
It may also include community representatives; no staff can serve on Policy Council.
Term limit of 3 years. Has approval/disapproval responsibility over many Early/Head
Start program management decisions, e.g., staff hiring/firing, location of sites,
program options used, major program changes, etc.
Policy Committee. The shared governance
committee that functions at the delegate agency level. Make-up is like Policy Council.
Policy Committees elect representatives to the Policy Council.
PRISM (Program Review Instrument for
Systems Monitoring). The system and tool used to conduct federal on-site monitoring
of Early/Head Start programs. This systems examines management systems, service delivery,
and the relationship between systems and services. Uses a combination of interviews,
focus groups, observation and record reviews to gather data about program quality.
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Program Performance Standards (HSPS). The federal regulations that set forth programmatic functions, activities and facilities
required for all Early/Head Start programs in the areas of Early Childhood Development
& Health, Family & Community Partnerships, Program Design & Management,
Disabilities, etc. Latest revision of the Standards is January 1998.
Program Options. Early/Head Start
service delivery models that may be selected by a grantee to respond to the needs
of children and families in the local community.
Quality Improvement Plan (QIP). The document developed by a grantee to respond to non-compliance findings identified
during the federal on-site review.
RO (Regional Office). The regionally
based federal government administration system. There are ten federal geographic
regional offices; in Early/Head Start there are 2 more - Migrant Programs
Branch and American Indians Program Branch. Head Start administration responsibilities
of the Regional Offices include providing stewardship, monitoring, and funding grants.
Screening. An initial look at a
child's level of functioning in fine/gross motor, cognitive, social, emotional,
speech/language development, hearing and vision, and health assessment. The screening
process should include obtaining developmental & health histories, observations
from parents, and input from teachers. Screening process may use a valid/reliable/culturally
relevant and appropriately normed standardized tool.
Self-Assessment. A required annual
process in which staff, parents and community assess their Early/Head Start program
in relation to the HSPS and other federal requirements. The results of this assessment
guide program planning & decision-making.
"In the final analysis
one could ask 'Was Head Start enough?' The answer is obviously "No." Was
it, is it as good as it could be? Again, the answer is "No." But Head Start
still was a miracle. It has been and continues to be a terrific thing for families
and children." 
