1. HEAD START 101

2. Guam Head Start Program

3. Head Start History
1965 – The birth of Head Start Head Start is now middle aged!! 44 Years old.
Part of the War on Poverty program
Health and Human Services grant from the
Office of Head Start.

4. Guam Head Start History
Head Start programs began as a Community Action Agency Program
Guam Head Start started as a summer program in 1965 and has continued for some 44 years

5. GDOE becomes grantee
In 1974: Public law Act to transfer the functions and responsibilities of the Head Start Division of the Community Action Agency to an appropriate division within the Department of Education.
Head Start has been part of the Elementary Division since then.

6. MISSION OF HEAD START
To break the cycle of failure by preparing young low income children and their families to better succeed in life.
To promote school readiness by enhancing social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families..

7. Mission: Guam Head Start
Prepare: Children and families for
Success
Promote: Social competency and
Awareness
Provide: Support and Services

8. Objectives of Head Start
Provide children with services to enhance their growth and development
Strengthen families as the primary caregivers/ nurturers of their children
Support families by providing opportunities for them to progress toward their goals of self sufficiency

9. Objectives continued.
Link children and families to needed community services by strengthening collaborative partnerships.
Ensure well-managed programs that involve parents in the decision making. Strengthen shared decision making with all stakeholders

10. Program Delivery
Guam Head Start is a center based program operating 5 days per week and at least 160 days per year.
25 centers are currently based in 20 of our elementary schools
Teaching staff/ student ratio 1/10 – 20 children per classroom.
Must provide enrollment opportunities
or at least 10% children with disabilities

11. Regulations
Reauthorization of the Head Start Act: December 2007; Public Law
Federal Performance Standards: 45 CFR 1301 – 1311
Federal Review: Ongoing Monitoring every 3 years: we were reviewed January 2010

12. Systems Systems that must exist in all Head Start
Agencies through all content areas
Governance
Planning
Communication
Record-keeping and Reporting
Ongoing monitoring
Self- Assessment
Human Resources
Fiscal Management
ERSEA (Eligibility, Registration, Selection, Enrollment, Attendance)

13. Comprehensive services
Content Areas
Child Development and Health Services
Family and Community Partnerships
Program Design and Management

14. comprehensive services
. . . for the whole child
early education
nutrition
disabilities
family services
parent involvement
health
parenting education
mental health
dental services

15. Service Areas Education: Ongoing Assessments
Individualization all children
Disability Services
Health / Nutrition Services
Mental Health Services
Family & Community Partnerships
Parent Involvement

16. Education Services Curriculum is Developmentally appropriate
Curriculums used:
Creative Curriculum
Second step
I am moving, I am learning
Standards do not conflict the Kindergarten standards
Lesson plans must include: individualization, medical, dental, nutrition, mental health and parent involvement activities.

17. Health Services
Screening: hearing, vision, physical, developmental, behavioral and lead screening.
Dental Health
Mental Health
Nutrition
Preventative health tracking and follow-up
Assistance with Medical and Dental Home and follow up of treatment plans.

18. Screening/Assessment/ Evaluation
Physical Exam, Health History, dental, vision, hearing, Nutrition history
Speech & language screening.
Behavior screening
Fine and Gross motor skills
Concepts
Self Health and Social Development

19. Disability Services Least Restrictive Environment
Dual enrollment possible
Related Services provided in the classroom
Interaction with same age peers
Attendance at district school
10% enrollment of children with disabilities is required

20. FAMILY / COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Assist families in determining family strengths, needs & goals
Family Partnership Agreement
Refer to community resources
Provide Support
Home Visits

21. Head Start Community Partners…
Government Agencies and Private Service Providers
Collaborate on the provision of services as well as in the planning and implementation of programs/activities
Health Services Advisory Committee

22. PARENT INVOLVEMENT Parent participation is important
Lesson and activity planning
Budget
All parents and/or guardians welcome
Volunteering in the classroom
Parent training
Parent Child activities
Parent Educational goals
Governance
Parents’ participation is very important in a child’s Head Start experience. For this experience to be meaningful and lasting, parents must participate in the daily program and at Center Level Parent Group meetings. These monthly meetings provide an opportunity to share experiences with other parents in planning your child’s learning activities and allows parents to give their input in the planning of educational curriculum, staff and parent training, as well as the development of health and social services.
Each Center Level Parent Group elects their own officers (Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer) as well as a Policy Council Parent Representative and Alternate Representative. No individual should hold more than one of these positions at any time.

23. Parent Opportunities
Training: Head Start is an option for various programs. (classroom, office, maintenance)
Education: GED,
Parent education/ training

24. Volunteers in Head Start…
Parents, Family Members, JOBS, FSS, UOG & GCC Students, Community Members Welcome
Parents in the DPH&SS JOBS Program or the GHURA FSS Program have the option to be placed in Head Start – Contact the Head Start Family Services Staff for more information

25. Average Daily Attendance
Child Outcomes
Record Keeping
Written Curriculum
Community Assessment
Parent Observations
comprehensive
"family style"
Parent Training
Individualization
Average Daily Attendance
family driven
Policy Council
Systems
Child Assessment
PIR
linguistically appropriate
Screening
Performance Standards
toothbrushing
Program Governance
Annual Self-Assessment
Document! Document! Document!!!
Culturally Appropriate
Ongoing Monitoring
Center/Parent Committee

26. Head Start Governance

27. Roles and responsibilities
Management:
Support shared decision making
Facilitate communication and information sharing between the GEPB and GHSPC
Implement decisions and policies
Primary Head Start management carry out the day to day activities of the program

28. Guam Education Policy Board “Governing Board”
Board of Directors for Guam Head Start Program
Carry out the requirements of shared decision making
Legal responsibility
Fiduciary responsibility

29. Guam Head Start Policy Council
Actively Participate in the Shared decision making process
Being involved in the planning of the program and budget and discussions before approval is sought.

30. What does the PC do?
Work with the management staff and Guam Education Policy Board (Governing body) to:
Help develop, review, and approve or disapprove the following:
Grant application which includes the budget
How to implement shared decision making

31. Continued. Goals and objectives Program activities
Program planning
Goals and objectives
Program activities
Review monthly financial statements
Is the money being spent in a timely manner?
Current balances
Determine the criteria for recruiting, selection and enrollment priorities.
Participate in the annual self assessment

32. Planning / discussion cycle Shared decision making.

33. Parents
Power of shared decision making: grant writing, budget, policies, procedures
Primary teacher of children
Awareness of family goals and needs
Advocate for family

34. Community Partners Serve on advisory committees such as
Health Services Advisory Committee
May serve on the Guam Head Start Policy Council and the Center Level Parent Groups
Collaboration between programs/ projects to provide services to our community and our Head Start families.

35. Teacher credentials
Head Start teachers must be Head Start Teacher certified and meet recertification requirements
Teachers must have Early childhood Education credentials
New Head Start act requires all HS teachers to have at least an AA/AS by 2011 and 50% nationwide must have a BA/BS by 2013 in Early childhood Education.

36. Teacher aide / assistants
Head Start Act requires all to obtain at a minimum a Early Childhood Certificate by 2013 (Child Development Associate) or working towards an AA /AS in Early Childhood.
Teacher aides in Head Start are not replacement 1:1 aides. They are teaching staff and work with the required adult to child ration of 1/10.

37. Child staff ratio
By Head Start regulations the classroom needs to have 2 paid staff to work with the children.
Volunteers are encouraged to add to the adult / child ratio.
Head Start usually provides our own substitutes from central office for our paid staff.

38. Head Start Curriculum Developmentally appropriate Creative Curriculum
Ongoing monitoring
Report 3 times / year
Outcomes based: literacy, math, science, and dual language stressed
Second Step Curriculum
Health curriculum includes dental, nutrition, and mental health
Parent involvement / parent activities included
I am Moving, I am learning (physical fitness and nutrition

39. Teaching staff expectations
Child contact includes all the curriculum pieces: social skills, meals physical fitness activities and parent child activities.
Family Involvement is part of their classroom prep and afternoon activities.
Home visits: 2 required and prn for issues and absences
Parent involvement activities:
Central Level parent Group (similar to PTO) advisior
Encourage to contribute to the school community

40. Expectations continued
Record keeping and tracking medical, dental, progress on goals and objectives for all children and families.
Ongoing monitoring tool of classroom
Discussing monthly activities with the Principal. There is a form to be completed and signed.

41. Classroom technology
Each classroom should have at least one computer: goal is 2.
Students use one and staff use the other.
Parents are invited to use the computer too.

42. Head Start Budget

43. Federal Budget
Basic Grant covers personnel costs and costs to provide comprehensive services to families and children. Amount is set by Washington DC
Training and technical Assistance grant is linked to training plan and may not be transferred to the Basic costs. Amount is set by DC
Supplemental grants opportunities vary from year to year. The availability and amount is set by the Office of Head Start

44. Funding: 2009 - 2010 Basic Grant: Salaries and operations: $ 2,168,195
Training and Technical Assistance: $41,898
COLA: $66,347
Supplemental: for training at the Region IX office: $25,000
ARRA award: COLA and Quality Improvement: $228,859.
COLA: $39,895: fringe benefits, mileage, cost of living increases in operations
Quality Improvement: $188,964
$94,499: professional development
$94,465: classroom and curricular enhancements and renovations and minimal personnel (extension of part time aide hours)

45. Local budget Projected budget for 2010
$775,000 estimate: utilities, personnel, xerox,and gas
School supply formulas – Each school counts our children in their census for supplies. (This seems to be area of concern)

46. Next year award requests:
Basic grant: $2,234,542
Training and technical assistance: $43,784
COLA: $39,895
ARRA expansion: pending approval: ends September 30, 2011
Basic: $282,780
Training and technical assistance: $5,656