OFFICE OF HEAD STARTAdministration for Children and Families

Department of Health and Human Services

OHS UPDATES

Across all CAP grantees,

October 2015

OHS Updates

• NPRM

• DRS

• Aligned Monitoring System

• 2014-15 Snapshot of Grantees

• Overview TTA

• Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework

• OHS Operational Priorities

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Overall Approach to Improve Quality

The NPRM was designed to improve Head Start quality by:

• Strengthening program services to reflect research and best practice to improve effectiveness of the program

• Maintaining core Head Start principles, including strong comprehensive services, parent engagement, serving the neediest children, and respecting diversity

• Improving clarity and transparency to support better program delivery for current grantees and attract new prospective grantees

• Reducing administrative burden to allow grantees to focus on high quality service delivery

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Comments• Received over 1,000 comments

• Nearly all were unique

• Many associations and groups came in together – approximately 1,200 signed on to one letter

• Comments from many different sectors – including individual parents, staff, program directors, policy councils, State and regional Head Start Associations, national organizations, think tanks, researchers and philanthropic groups.

• Comments are very thoughtful, specific, and with suggestions. Available on line (www.regulations.gov)

• Reading and analyzing all the comments

• Hope to have a final rule within the year

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Designation Renewal (DRS):

National Competition Outcomes

• Of the incumbent grantees in Cohorts 1, 2, and 3:

76% Received a grant

69% Retained entire grant

7% Received a smaller grant (kept part of grant)

23% Did not receive a grant* includes voluntary relinquishments

• Statistically, if there was an applicant other than the incumbent, 44 percent of incumbents lost their grant and 56 percent kept some or all of their grant.

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National Cohort 4 DRS Designation

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90 Grants were designated to Compete in Cohort 4

▫ 36% only met deficiency criteria

▫ 53% only met CLASS only criteria 47% met CLASS lowest 10 percent criteria only

(not below the threshold)

6% met CLASS only criteria below threshold

▫ 9% met both deficiency and CLASS criteria

▫ 2% met other criteria

FY 2016 Monitoring at a Glance

Slightly enhanced 2 FY 2015 protocols:• Environmental Health & Safety (EnvHS)• Fiscal Integrity/ERSEA

Made no significant changes to 2 tools:• CLASS®

• HSKI-C

Developed 2 new protocols:• Leadership, Governance, Management Systems

(LGMS)• Comprehensive Services & School Readiness (CSSR)

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Fiscal Integrity/ERSEA: Enhancements

for FY 2016

FY 2016 Fiscal Integrity CMs have been modified to account for the Uniform Guidance

• Standards have been updated

• TQ language has been adjusted

The FY2016 ERSEA Protocol was also updated as a result of new OHS requirements

• Maintaining source documentation

• Conducting in-person or phone eligibility interviews

• Adjusted eligibility categories

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Review Event Purpose:

Leadership, Governance, Management Systems

(LGMS)

Designed to look comprehensively at how the program• Develops its goals and plans

• Allocates resources (e.g., staff, facilities, material resources)

• Operates the program

• Evaluates effectiveness and ensures ongoing improvement

Highlights the role of program leadership – Governing Body, Policy Council, Director – on program effectiveness

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LGMS: Tool OverviewProgram Planning

Effective program management begins when the Head Start program determines how the program intends to deliver quality comprehensive services to children and families.

Developing and Organizing ResourcesBased on the planning process, Head Start agencies develop and organize their resources in preparation for implementing their plans and achieving their goals

Operating and Implementing the ProgramProgram operation and implementation are driven by the program’s plan to achieve its goals, deliver high-quality comprehensive services, and provide safe and healthy learning environments for children and families.

Evaluating Performance and Stimulating Ongoing Improvement

To inform planning, assess progress, and stimulate ongoing improvement, leadership must ensure that there are methods to evaluate program performance.

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Review Event Purpose:

Comprehensive Services and School Readiness

(CSSR)

The Comprehensive Services and School Readiness (CSSR) Review is an evaluation of:

• Grantee’s provision of high quality, comprehensive services to children and families

• Grantee’s effectiveness in promoting children’s school readiness

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CSSR: Tool Overview

O Assessing Child and Family Strengths and Needs

O Addressing Child and Family Needs

O Providing High Quality Teaching and Learning

O Planning for Transition

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FY 2016 Virtual Expo: Tools for You

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Features• Toolkits

• Protocols

• Review Event education modules

• Office Hours

• Informational videos

Aligned Monitoring Virtual Expo

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Overview

• Program Statistics on Region V Head Start Grantees

• Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships (EHS-CC Partnership)

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National Head Start Snapshot: 2014-2015

Source: 2015 Program Information Report (PIR)

• Approximately 1,093,000 children from birth to age 5 including pregnant women received Head Start services.

• In addition to education services, Head Start programs provide children and their families with health, nutrition, social-emotional, and family services.

• 2,000 grantees nationwide including the territories.

• 44,000 pre-school teachers and 45,000 pre-school classes. Head Start also offers family child care, and home visiting programs.

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National Head Start Snapshot: Age of

Children Receiving Services

<1 year old, 5%

1 year old, 5%

2 years old, 8%

3 years old, 36%

4 years old, 44%

>=5 years old, 1%

Pregnant women, 1%

Source: PIR 2015

Enrollment by Age in Region V matches the National trend.

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Preschool Teacher Qualifications

Source: 2015 PIR

CDA, 1% CDA, 3%

Associate, 23%Associate, 23%

BA, 64% BA, 59%

Advanced, 13% Advanced, 13%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

No Related Cred/ Deg., 1%

No Related Cred/ Deg., 1%Region V National

Region V 2015 PIR Highlights: Health

Services

• At enrollment 63% of children were up-to-date according to the state’s EPSDT schedule.

• At the end of enrollment 85% of children were up-to-date according to the state’s EPSDT schedule.

• At enrollment 91% of children were up-to-date on immunizations.

• At the end of enrollment 96% of children were up-to-date on immunizations.

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Children’s Health Measures at the End

of Enrollment

96%97% 97%

96%97% 97% 97%

81%

75%

80%

85%

90%

95%

100%

HadImmunizations

Had healthinsurance

Had medicalhome

Had dentalhome

Region V

National

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EHS-CC Partnership Grants

• Nationwide, 275 grants awarded for EHS-CC Partnership & EHS Expansion

• About 32,000 Funded Enrollment Slots▫ About 28,000 Partnership slots

▫ About 4,000 Expansion slots

• EHS-CC Partnership/EHS Expansion grantees have 18 months from the date of award to reach full enrollment.

• Enrollment steadily increasing each month

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Overview

• T/TA

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Early Childhood T/TA System Goals

• Target services for children birth to age 5, and their families, with support for expectant families and school-age children

• Promote a consistent philosophy in the provision of comprehensive services and school readiness with strategies that are age, developmentally, ability, culturally, and linguistically appropriate

• Provide high-quality, evidenced-based, practical resources and approaches that build capacity and create sustainable early childhood practices at the regional, state, and local levels

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Early Childhood T/TA System Goals Continued

• Scaffold timely and relevant guidance, training, materials, and professional development activities to account for different stakeholder needs and levels of readiness

• Emphasize use of data for continuous quality improvement, coordination, and integration across the broader early childhood sector▫ Evaluate the quality of assistance provided and the

degree to which the needs of ECE programs, staff, children, and families are met

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Early Childhood T/TA System Goals Continued

• Build upon previous evaluations and lessons learned from Office of Head Start and Office of Child Care T/TA

• Amplify and expand the distribution of high quality, evidence-based resources to reach a greater number of early care and education programs at the local level and the children and families they serve

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Regional T/TA Network

• Regional, rather than state-based

• Continued focus on school readiness, family engagement, supporting at risk grantees

• Greater focus on TA as process consultation to improve practice change at grantee level

• Two new positions: Health Specialist, Systems Specialist

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The New Head Start Early Learning

Outcomes Framework

• Published in June 2015

• Includes ages birth to five years

• Reflects latest research, science, and best practice

• Describes the skills, behaviors, and knowledge programs must foster in all children

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Where to Find the Framework

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• All grantee and delegate agencies will receive one hard copy of the Framework.

• You can find it electronically on the Front Page of the ECLKC! http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc▫ Also About Head Start -> School Readiness -> Frameworks▫ Or use Search

Please note that the Framework will be available in Spanish shortly

Using the Framework

• Decision-making related to curriculum, assessment, quality improvement, and implementing evidence-based teaching practices that promote strong positive child outcomes.

• Planning instruction and designing opportunities for children to learn, play, explore, discover, and form relationships in a positive and stimulating environment.

• The Framework can help programs conduct classroom observations and provide coaching that supports improved teaching and learning.

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Where to Start?

• The Framework is NOT a curriculum, an assessment, or a checklist.

• Getting Started with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework is a document that will help you plan how you will implement the Framework.

• OHS expects it may take a year before programs fully transition to the new Framework.

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Office of Head Start

2015-2017

Operational Priorities 1. Implement policy to promote HS/EHS quality. Finalize and implement new Head Start Program Performance Standards and Fiscal Uniform Guidance requirements.

2. Ensure HS/EHS learning environments and services provide safe, secure and healthy places for all children to learn and develop. Prioritize active supervision in all settings to increase focused attention and intentional observation of children at all times; promote positive child health outcomes; increase emphasis on preventive services; promote access to continuous, accessible health services; and promote mental wellness of staff, children, pregnant women and families.

3. Promote comprehensive, culturally and linguistically responsive services as the foundation of school readiness. Implement Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five. Support effective systems for using child assessment and other program data to track child, family and program progress over time and for continuous improvement of high quality comprehensive services. Prioritize professional development of all staff, emphasizing high-quality teaching and caregiving practices and effective teacher-child interactions.

4. Systematically embed outcomes-based family wellbeing and family engagement strategies in HS/EHS. Using the PFCE Framework as a guide, integrate family engagement and family economic mobility strategies across all aspects of HS/EHS to effectively build relationships; engage and support HS/EHS families; and boost family wellbeing and children’s school readiness.

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5. Leverage partnerships to enhance quality systems and services. Promote partnerships between Head Start/Early Head Start, child care, early care and education systems, state Head Start Collaboration offices, schools, and communities to improve continuity for children and families across learning, health, and other community settings.

6. Improve the leadership and management of HS/EHS programs: Use the five year grant oversight process and the Designation Renewal System to yield effective leadership, data-driven practice for continuous improvement, effective use of program funds and assets to support identified program outcomes, and implementation of regulatory guidance/program requirements.

7. Fully implement the aligned monitoring review system: Use aligned monitoring system as part of the five year grant oversight process to assure grantees effectively implement quality programs.

8. Implement the ACF TTA system transformation. Through effective TTA delivery, promote high quality evidence-based technical assistance for Head Start/Early Head Start programs and the early childhood field. Strengthen the organizational policies and practices at the Regional, State and local level and improve staff practices with children and families across ECE settings.

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Thanks for all you do for children and families.

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