Use the resources on this page to increase your knowledge about parenting programs that are most likely to be effective with families of young children in the settings where you work. Find tips and strategies for how to implement these programs well..

Children experience many transitions, including from home to an early care and education setting, between age groups or program settings, and from preschool to kindergarten. Supporting these transitions is critically important..

Learning environments are nurturing spaces that support the development of all young children. They include classrooms, play spaces, areas for caregiving routines, and outdoor areas.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as required by Congress, established the Designation Renewal System (DRS) to determine whether Head Start and Early Head Start agencies deliver high-quality and comprehensive services to the families they serve.

New and experienced staff will find professional development tools to help keep children safe, healthy, and ready to learn.

Young children vary in their skills, knowledge, backgrounds, and abilities. Effective teaching requires individualized teaching and chances to learn for all children to access, participate, and thrive in early learning settings. Individualizing for children who need more support helps ensure effective teaching for children with disabilities and other special needs across all the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework domains.

Excellence in early childhood education (ECE) programs is built on a workforce that promotes continuous program improvement.

Health is the foundation of school readiness. To help children thrive, Head Start staff ensure that children are up to date on immunizations and their state’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) schedule, learn healthy habits, and can access the care they need. Head Start also promotes the physical and social and emotional well-being of families and staff.

The Head Start Program Performance Standards prescribe the management of program data and support its availability, usability, integrity, and security. A program must establish procedures on data management, and through ongoing assessment, use data to effectively oversee progress toward addressing program needs, evaluate compliance, and successfully achieve program goals.

Across early childhood systems and programs, managers and staff must be prepared to enhance experiences for the growing number of young children who are learning their home languages and English..