(a) Class size.
(1) Head Start classes must be staffed by a teacher and an aide or two
teachers and, whenever possible, a volunteer.
(2) Grantees must determine their class size based on the predominant age
of the children who will participate in the class and whether or not a
centerbased double session variation is being implemented.
(3) For classes serving predominantly four or five year old children, the
average class size of that group of classes must be between 17 and 20
children, with no more than 20 children enrolled in any one class.
(4) When double session classes serve predominantly four or five year old children,
the average class size of that group of classes must be
between 15 and 17 children. A double session class for four or five year
old children may have no more than 17 children enrolled. (See paragraph (c)
of this section for other requirements regarding the double session
variation.)
(5) For classes serving predominantly three year old children, the
average class size of that group of classes must be between 15 and 17
children, with no more than 17 children enrolled in any one class.
(6) When double session classes serve pre dominantly three year old children,
the aver age class size of that group of classes must be
between 13 and 15 children. A double session class for three year old
children may have no more than 15 children enrolled. (See paragraph (c) of
this section for other requirements regarding the double session
variation.)
(7) It is recommended that at least 13 children be enrolled in each
centerbased option class where feasible.
(8) A class is considered to serve predominantly four or five year old
children if more than half of the children in the class will be four or five
years old by whatever date is used by the State or local jurisdiction in
which the Head Start program is located to determine eligibility for public
school.
(9) A class is considered to serve predominantly three year old children
if more than half of the children in the class will be three years old by
whatever date is used by the State or local jurisdiction in which Head Start
is located to determine eligibility for public school.
(10) Head Start grantees must determine the predominant age of children
in the class at the start of the year. There is no need to change that
determination during the year.
(11) In some cases, State or
local licensing requirements may be more stringent than these class
requirements, preventing the required minimum numbers of children from being
enrolled in the facility used by Head Start. Where this is the case, Head
Start grantees must try to find alternative facilities that satisfy
licensing requirements for the numbers of children cited above. If no
alternative facilities are available, the responsible HHS official has the
discretion to approve enrollment of fewer children than required
above.
(12) The chart below may be used for easy
reference:
| Predominant age of children in the
class |
Funded class size [Funded
enrollment]
|
| 4 and 5 year
olds............. |
Program average of 17-20 children enrolled
per class in these classes. No more than 20 children enrolled in
any class.
|
| 4 and 5 year olds in double session
classes. |
Program average of 15-17 children enrolled
per class in these classes. No more than 17 children enrolled in
any class.
|
| 3 year
olds................... |
Program average of 15-17 children enrolled
per class in these classes. No more than 17 children enrolled in
any class.
|
| 3 year olds in double session
classes. |
Program average of 13-15 children enrolled
per class in these classes. No more than 15 children enrolled in
any class. |
(b) Centerbased program option requirements.
(1) Classes must operate for four or five
days per week or some combination of four and five days per week.
(2) Classes must operate for a minimum of three and one half to a maximum
of six hours per day with four hours being optimal.
(3) The annual number of required days of planned class operations (days
when children are scheduled to attend) is determined by the number
of days per week each program
operates. Programs that operate for four days per week must provide at least
128 days per year of planned class operations. Programs that operate for
five days per week must provide at least 160 days per year of planned class
operations. Grantees implementing a combination of four and five days per
week must plan to operate between 128 and 160 days per year. The minimum
number of planned days of service per year can be determined by computing
the relative number of four and five day weeks that the program is in
operation. All centerbased program options must provide a minimum of 32
weeks of scheduled days of class operations over an eight or nine month
period. Every effort should be made to
schedule makeup classes using existing resources if planned class days fall
below the number required per year.
(4) Programs must make a reasonable estimate of the number of days
during a year that classes may be closed due to problems such as
inclement weather or illness, based on their experience in previous
years. Grantees must make provisions in their budgets and program plans to
operate makeup classes and provide these classes, when needed, to prevent
the number of days of service available to the children from falling below
128 days per year.
(5) Each individual child is not required to receive the minimum days of
service, although this is to be encouraged in accordance with Head Start
policies regarding attendance. The minimum number of days also does not
apply to children with disabilities whose individualized education plan may
require fewer planned days of service in the Head Start program.
(6) Head Start grantees operating migrant programs are not subject to the
requirement for a minimum number of planned days, but must make every effort
to provide as many days of service as possible to each migrant child and
family.
(7) Staff must be employed for sufficient time to allow them to
participate in preservice training, to plan and set up the program at the
start of the year, to close the program at the end of the year, to conduct
home visits, to conduct health examinations, screening and immunization
activities, to maintain records, and to keep service component plans and
activities current and relevant. These activities should take place outside
of the time scheduled for classes in centerbased programs or home visits in
homebased programs.
(8) Head Start grantees must develop and
implement a system that actively encourages parents to participate in two
home visits annually for each child enrolled in a centerbased program
option. These visits must be initiated and carried out by the child's
teacher. The child may not be dropped from the program if the parents will
not participate in the visits.
(9) Head Start grantees operating migrant programs are required to plan for
a minimum of two parent teacher conferences for each child during the
time they serve that child. Should time and circumstance allow, migrant
programs must make every effort to conduct home visits.
(c) Double session variation.
(1) A centerbased option with a double session variation employs a
single teacher to work with one group of children in the morning and a
different group of children in the afternoon. Because of the larger number
of children and families to whom the teacher must provide services, double
session program options must comply with the requirements regarding class
size explained in paragraph (a) of this section and with all other
centerbased requirements in paragraph (b) of this section with the
exceptions and additions noted in paragraphs (c) (2) and (3) of this
section.
(2) Each program must operate classes for four days per week.
(3) Each double session classroom staff member must be provided adequate
break time during the course of the day. In addition, teachers, aides and
volunteers must have appropriate time to prepare for each session
together, to set up the classroom environment and to give individual
attention to children entering and leaving the center.
(d) Full day variation.
(1) A Head Start grantee implementing a centerbased program option may
operate a full day variation and provide more than six hours of class
operations per day using Head Start funds. These programs must comply with
all the requirements regarding the centerbased program option found in
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section with the exception of paragraph
(b)(2) regarding the hours of service per day.
(2) Programs are
encouraged to meet the needs of Head Start families for full day services by
securing funds from other agencies. Before implementing a full day variation
of a centerbased option, a Head Start grantee should demonstrate that
alternative enrollment opportunities or funding from non Head Start sources
are not available for Head Start families needing full day child
care services.
(3) Head Start grantees may provide full day services only to those
children and families with special needs that justify full day services
or to those children whose parents are employed or in job training with
no caregiver present in the home. The records of each child receiving
services for more than six hours per day must show how each child meets the
criteria stated above.
(e) Non Head Start services. Grantees may charge for services which are
provided outside the hours of the Head Start program.
