ACYF Administration on Children, Youth and Families	U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families
	1. Log No. ACYF-IM-HS-01-12	2. Issuance Date: 11/05/01
	3. Originating Office: Head Start Bureau
	4. Key Word: New Directors and New Education Managers Conference

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

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

SUBJECT: Invitation to the Head Start and Early Head Start New Directors and New Education Managers Conference, January 27-31, 2002

INFORMATION: The Head Start Bureau is pleased to extend this invitation to the Head Start and Early Head Start New Directors and New Education Managers Conference to grantee and delegate agency directors and education managers who have been in their present positions less than two years. The conference will be held in Washington, D.C., January 27-31, 2002.

In 2002, the New Directors Conference, which has been an annual event for the past six years, is being expanded and redesigned to include new Education Managers. This event continues the momentum of the December, 2000 National Head Start Child Development Institute, which convened over 3,500 Head Start and Early Head Start leaders to create a common vision and strategy for improving the quality and outcomes of Head Start's child development services in the 21st century.

Conference Goals

• Highlight knowledge and skills that are critical to developing, implementing, and assessing program systems and services in Early Childhood Development and Health, Family and Community Partnerships, and Program Design and Management.
  
  
• Learn about new plans to improve Head Start's effectiveness in areas such as pre-literacy and reading readiness, working with fathers, and supporting healthy marriages.
  
  
• Increase understanding of the Head Start Program Performance Standards and best practices in the context of Head Start and Early Head Start history, values and future.
  
  
• Expand knowledge and skills related to curriculum implementation, child observation and assessment, individualization, the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework - and their connection to ongoing program improvement.
  
  
• Enhance capacities in leadership, supervision, mentoring, and professional development of staff members.
  
  
• Create an individual professional development plan.

Conference Design

• Learning Experiences will include plenary sessions combining directors and education managers, focusing on topics such as the Administration's vision and priorities for Head Start and Early Head Start, pre-literacy skills and school readiness, the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework, and effective leadership approaches. There will be workshops designed for new directors regarding governance, management, human resources, and financial management. There will also be presentations and discussions for new education managers regarding curriculum, screening and assessment, child outcomes, and supervision and mentoring.

There will be small group discussions to synthesize the day's learning and to support the development of Individual Professional Development plans. Discussions will be facilitated by key members of the Head Start and Early Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network. Breakfast and lunch topical dialogues will give participants additional opportunities to network.

• Conference Materials and Assignments - Following receipt of paid Conference registration, individuals will receive an agenda and reading material to prepare for the conference experiences and outcomes.
  
  
• Conference Follow-up - Under the direction of the ACF Regional Offices, the Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network will provide some of the future training and professional development events based on the experiences and information of the 2002 Head Start and Early Head Start New Directors and New Education Managers Conference.

Conference Registration, Fees and Schedule

• Registration materials are being mailed under separate cover. A web site will be established to support communication regarding The Head Start and Early Head Start New Directors and New Education Managers Conference, including on-line registration. The registration fee will be $350.00 per participant. Programs may use Quality Improvement funds for travel, per diem, and registration fees. All registration forms and payment of registration fees are to be received by December 21, 2001.
  
  
• Arrival and Departure - Registration will take place from 2:00 - 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 27. Our work will begin at 9:00 a.m., Monday, January 28, and conclude by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 31, 2001.
  
  Since each day's work has connections to the content and experiences of the previous day and the next day's learning, it is important that each person commit to participation for the entire four days. Therefore, your travel arrangements should be for arrival by Sunday, January 27 and for departure from the conference after 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 31.
  
  
• For those who desire, college credit will be offered for successful completion of the conference assignments and experiences. Space is provided in the registration materials for you to indicate your interest in receiving undergraduate credit, graduate credit, or continuing education units. More information on the college credit option will be mailed to participants upon receipt of completed registration forms.

This conference will help new directors and new education managers understand and implement the vision and priorities for Early Head Start and Head Start for years to come and help to realize our collective obligation to provide each child and family with a quality comprehensive child development program.

Douglas Klafehn
Acting Associate Commissioner
Head Start Bureau