Response:
The child does
not automatically qualify for a preschool Head Start program. The
family's income must be redetermined before enrollment into
preschool Head Start. If the family no longer meets the income
eligibility for Head Start, one of two things can happen.
- The child can be enrolled as over-income if
this meets the local program's selection and enrollment criteria.
Head Start programs are allowed to offer 10% of their enrollment
to children whose families are above the federal poverty
guideline.
- As part of the transition planning for and with
the family, Early Head Start is responsible for helping to find an
appropriate non-Head Start preschool placement if that is what is
needed.
Considerations:
- The Program Performance Standards cite that the
transition planning should begin six months prior to the child's
third birthday. Since children and families often experience
transitions from one program option to another throughout their
participation in Early Head Start, transition planning can begin
even earlier and be an ongoing process that is integrated into the
family partnership plans.
Performance Standards,
Title 45, Code of Federal Regulations:
- 1305.7(c) When a child moves from a program
serving infants and toddlers to a Head Start program serving
children age three and older, the family income must be
re-verified. If one agency operates both an Early Head Start and a
Head Start program, and the parents wish to enroll their child who
has been enrolled in the agency's Early Head Start program, the
agency must ensure, whenever possible, that the child receives
Head Start services until enrolled in school.
- 1304.41(c)(1) Grantee and delegate agencies
must establish and maintain procedures to support successful
transitions for enrolled children and families from previous child
care programs into Early Head Start or Head Start and from Head
Start into elementary school, a Title 1 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education preschool program, or other child care
settings.
- 1304.41(c)(2) To ensure the most appropriate
placement and services following participation in Early Head
Start, transition planning must be undertaken for each child and
family at least six months prior to the child's third birthday.
Resources:
Training Guides for the Head Start Learning
Community: Planning for Transitions
Training Guides for the
Head Start Learning Community: Bringing Families on
Board
Training Guides for the Head Start Learning Community:
Accessing Services through Community Linkages
"Anticipating
Transition Issues in EHS: Developing a Thoughtful Approach"
from Region X Head Start News, Spring 2001
The Tip Sheet is not a regulatory document. Its intent is to
provide a basis for dialogue, clarification, and problem solving
among the Head Start Bureau, Regional Offices, T & TA
consultants, and grantees.