In Head Start programs, the governing body shares key decision-making activities with the Policy Council or Policy Committee. This concept of shared decision-making is unique to Head Start. Parent participation in this shared decision-making process is an essential element for Head Start. This section houses information related to fostering parent involvement in Head Start governance, including resources to assist in establishing appropriate policies and protocols for Policy Councils, and developing the skills needed for effective program governance such as organizational planning. Information on mediation and other dispute resolution strategies also can be found in this section.

The information and resources are related to the subjects listed below:

Internal Dispute Resolution
Head Start and Early Head Start programs along with their policy groups are required to establish written procedures for internal disputes. This section contains policy guidance that further explains mediation and how to ensure that your procedures include strategies for resolving disputes between the governing body and policy groups.

Policy Council
The Policy Council serves as the policy group at the grantee program level. For a variety of resources, check out the Policy Council Toolkit located in this section.

Program Governance in Head Start
A formal structure of program governance provides parents and other community representatives with the authority and opportunity to participate in shared decision-making. This section contains what Federal staff, program staff, and parents have to say about program governance in Head Start.

Shared Decision-Making
Procedures describing how the governing body and the appropriate policy group will implement shared decision-making are critical for effective program governance. Review some frequently asked questions on shared decision-making.