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.
