INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

TO: Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies

SUBJECT: Head Start Program Information Report (PIR) for the 1999-2000 Program Operating Period

INFORMATION: Each year Head Start and Early Head Start grantees and delegate agencies are required to submit the Program Information Report (PIR). The PIR provides comprehensive, national data on the Head Start program. It includes important information about the number of children served, staffing, program services and activities, and selected areas of importance to national policy-making. In addition to providing key data for the Head Start community, PIR information is used to respond to congressional and public inquiries about Head Start.

Last year nearly 2,000 programs (90%) submitted their PIR data electronically. Electronic data transfer (EDT) is the most efficient means to submit your report. EDT has substantially reduced reporting errors and data entry time, and has produced considerable savings. All programs are strongly encouraged to submit the 2000 PIR using one of the following electronic data transfer (EDT) procedures: a) by completing the report on the disk provided in this package and mailing the disk, b) by e-mailing the completed disk, or, c) by transmitting the completed data disk via modem. Each of these procedures is explained in the attached reporting instructions.

Finally, this year we have improved the reporting process further by providing the first Windows version of the PIREDT program.
Attached are: (1) the 1999-2000 PIR form, (2) General Instructions for completing the PIR and (3) Instructions for electronically submitting the report.
The PIR must be completed by all Head Start and Early Head Start programs that have served children for any length of time during the reporting period. (Newly funded programs that have not yet begun serving children need not submit a report.) Completed PIR forms are due on May 31, 2000, with the exception that Migrant Head Start programs may delay the submission to September 29, 2000. A few Migrant Head Start programs may need to submit the PIR form beyond this date and should contact the Migrant Programs Branch to arrange a later submission date.
We recommend that grantees immediately verify that their delegates have received their PIR package. Please contact your regional office if additional copies of the PIR form are required.

If you have questions concerning the processing of PIR forms, please contact Ellsworth Associates, the contractor that is assisting us in this data collection. Ellsworth staff can be contacted directly at (703) 821-3090, extension 260.
Thank you for your cooperation during this important reporting process.

INQUIRIES TO:
Regional Administrators, ACF
American Indian and Migrant Programs Branches
/S/
Helen H. Taylor
Associate Commissioner
Head Start Bureau