Head Start

The Head Start program promotes school readiness by enhancing the cognitive, physical, behavioral, and social-emotional development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services to their enrollees - low-income children and families, including those on federally recognized tribal reservations and migratory farm workers. The program is designed to involve parents in their child’s learning and development, and to help parents make progress toward their educational, literacy, and employment goals. Head Start also emphasizes the significant involvement of parents in the administration of their local Head Start programs. The Head Start Program Performance Standards outline the requirements and expectations of programs in delivering these services. Local Head Start programs are expected to collaborate with other early care and education programs in their communities, and to work closely with local school systems to continue the gains children achieve in Head Start.

Program implementation emphasizes increasing parental choice, improving health, education, nutrition, and employment outcomes, increasing operational efficiency, and strengthening parental engagement, refocusing the program on its original goals, established 60 years ago, to help American families escape poverty.

Through Early Head Start programming, the focus includes child development and enabling parents to fulfill their roles while moving toward self-sufficiency. These local programs promote the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of infants and toddlers through safe and developmentally enriching caregiving, preparing children for continued growth and development and eventual success in school and life.

Since 2014 through Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships, access is expanded to meet the needs for infant and toddler care in communities through traditional Early Head Start programming or through partnerships with center-based and family child care providers who agree to meet the Head Start Program Performance Standards. To achieve their goals, local programs are supported by a robust training and technical assistance system (national, regional, and local). The Office of Head Start Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) System improves the knowledge, skills, and practices of recipient staff to implement their local programs which, in turn, improve the outcomes of children and families. The TTA system provides assistance on program management and fiscal operations; early childhood development; teaching and learning; engagement of parents, families, and the community; and health, behavioral health, and safety. Awards are also issued to Tribal Colleges & Universities for establishing or enhancing partnerships with local Head Start programs to effectively increase the number of qualified education staff working in American Indian Alaska Native Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Any government, federally-recognized Indian tribe, or public or private nonprofit or for profit agency which meets the requirements listed in a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) may apply for an award. However, applications will be considered only when submitted in response to a specific opportunity, published at the following website address: http://www.grants.gov, which solicits proposals to expand Head Start/Early Head Start programs or establish new ones. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity.

Local Head Start/Early Head Start programs are for children from birth up to the age when the child enters the school system. Head Start programs serve pre-school age children while Early Head Start programs serve children from birth through age three as well as pregnant women. The Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership programs are expanding access to high quality early learning and development opportunities for infants and toddlers from birth through age four.

No less than 10 percent of each Head Start program's enrollment shall be for children with disabilities.

At least 90 percent of the enrollees in a program must be income eligible; i.e., from families whose income is below the poverty line, from families receiving public assistance, from homeless families or children in foster care. Programs may serve an additional 35 percent of participants with incomes up to 130 percent of poverty if they can demonstrate that they already are meeting the needs of children below the poverty line in the area served. American Indian and Alaska Native programs may enroll additional over-income children if they enroll all children in their service area that are income eligible and predominantly serve children meeting the low income criteria. Training and technical assistance awards are available to Head Start programs.

Each application is reviewed against four factors: eligibility, the application deadline, required electronic submission or waiver requested and approved, and the Award Ceiling. If the application does not meet all of these factors, then it is disqualified from the merit review process.

After the initial review, applications are reviewed and evaluated by merit review panels using only the criteria described in the Application Review section of the NOFO. Each panel is composed of experts with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Generally, review panels include three reviewers and one chairperson.

While merit review scores and their ranking are not binding, ACF does consider them when selecting projects for funding. Scores and rankings are only one element used in the award decision-making process. Other criteria are explained in the Program Description section and in the Application Review section of the NOFO. For example, ACF may reserve the right to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio by considering the geographic distribution of federal funds (e.g., ensuring coverage of states, counties, or service areas) in its pre-award decisions.
ACF may elect not to fund applicants with management or financial problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project. In addition, ACF may elect to not allow a prime recipient to subaward if there is any indication that they are unable to properly monitor and manage subrecipients.

Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than requested.

This, depending on the nature of the proposal, can vary considerably from 90 days to as much as several months.

ACF may elect not to fund applicants with management or financial problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project. In addition, ACF may elect to not allow a prime recipient to subaward if there is any indication that they are unable to properly monitor and manage subrecipients. Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than requested.

Once a decision is made, awards are issued by 10 Regional Offices that are geographically responsible for awards in certain states or territories. Awards to American Indian and Alaska Native, and Migrant and Seasonal programs are issued by the Central Office .