HomeMy WebLinkAbout20090854RESOLUTION
RE: APPROVE INFORMATION MEMORANDUMS FOR HEAD START PROGRAMS
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, the Board has been presented with Information Memorandums for Head Start
Programs to the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County
Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Human Services, Family
Educational Network of Weld County, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
with terms and conditions being as stated in said memorandums, and
WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said memorandums,
copies of which are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld
County, Colorado, that the Information Memorandums for Head Start Programs to the County of
Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on
behalf of the Department of Human Services, Family Educational Network of Weld County, from
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services be, and hereby are, approved.
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by
the following vote on the 13th day of April, A.D., 2009.
ATTEST:
Weld County Clerk to the Board
BY
c'
Deputy Clerk to the Board,
Coounty `Attorney
Date of signature '// i/'
BOARD OF CO NTY COMMISSIONERS
WELDf9vt4f COLORADO
Sean P. Conway
64—te-r leAC
Sher. Pro-Tem
David E. Long
00 . //T
2009-0854
HR0080
MEMORANDUM
WUD
DATE: April 9, 2009
TO: William F. Garcia, Chair, Board of County Co Assioners
FROM: Judy A. Griego, Director, Human ices;hep
• 111
COLORADO RE: The Weld County Department of Human Services' Family
Educational Network's Information Memoranda from the
Department of Health and Human Services
Enclosed for Board Approval is the Department's Family Educational Network's Information
Memoranda from the Department of Health and Human Services. These Information
Memoranda provide programs with requirements and clarification of requirements set forth in
the Head Start Act and Performance standards. These were presented at the Board's March
30, 2009, Work Session.
If you have any questions, give me a call at extension 6510.
2009-0854
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ACF
Administration for Children and
Families
U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
1. Log No. ACF-IM-HS-
09-01
2. Issuance Date:
03/12/2009
13. Originating Office: Office of Head Start
4. Key Words: Certifying Eligibility for Enrollment in
Head Start Programs
INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
TO: Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies
SUBJECT: Certifying Eligibility for Enrollment in Head Start Programs
INFORMATION:
The requirements for establishing proof of eligibility for the enrollment of children in Head Start programs are
documented in 45 CFR 1305.4(e). Each child's record must include a signed statement by an employee identifying
those documents which were reviewed to determine eligibility. Presently there is no uniform document which the
employee must sign.
The lack of uniformity in enrollment records, in the past, has led to determinations that erroneous payments may
have been made because of poor documentation.
Erroneous payment reviews are required by the Improper Payments Act and are conducted on site for each
program receiving an annual or triennial review. In order to facilitate an efficient and accurate determination of
eligibility, we ask that all programs use the attached template for determining eligibility and include the form in
each child's record.
Use of this template cannot be required by the Office of Head Start without the review and approval of the Office
of Management and Budget; however, OHS is requesting a review and if approved will require that all children's
records contain the form.
/Patricia E. Brown/
Patricia E. Brown
Acting Director
Office of Head Start
Memorandum of Understanding with Local Entity Responsible for Managing Publicly
Funded Preschool Programs
ACF-IM-HS-08-18
Memorandum of Understanding with Local Entity Responsible for Managing Publicly
Funded Preschool Programs
ACF
Administration for Children and
Families
U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
1. Log No. ACF-IM-
HS-08-18
2. Issuance Date:
10/14/2008
3. Originating Office: Office of Head Start
4. Key Words: Memorandum of
Understanding
INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
TO: All Head Start Grantees
SUBJECT: Memorandum of Understanding with Local Entity Responsible for Managing Publicly
Funded Preschool Programs
INFORMATION:
In accordance with Section 642(e)(5) of the Head Start Act, Head Start agencies (grantees) are
required, no later than December 12, 2008, to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
with the appropriate local entity responsible for managing publicly funded preschool (pre-
kindergarten) programs in their service area.
Many states have designated local entities to be responsible for managing publicly funded
preschool programs. These include local educational agencies (LEAs), and in some cases city
and county governmental agencies. Head Start agencies should identify and work with the
appropriate LEA, city or county agency to either expand the scope of processes and agreements
already in place or to develop new processes that will result in an MOU(s). In either case, the
MOU(s) must include coordination plans that address the ten subjects described in Section
642(e)(5)(A) of the Act. If there is more than one LEA, or city and county governmental agency
managing publicly funded preschool programs within a Head Start service area, the Head Start
agency will need to enter into MOUs with each LEA or city and county agency within their service
area. Where a state has not designated an LEA or city and county agency to manage local
publicly funded preschool programs within the service area of a Head Start grantee, the MOU
requirement does not apply. The requirement is not intended to result in MOUs with individual
preschool programs or individual child care providers. The MOU requirement does not apply to
Head Start delegate agencies.
Head Start grantees are reminded that their State Director of Head Start Collaboration is available
to assist if collaboration or coordination issues related to the MOU process arise. Grantees are
also reminded that these MOUs are to be revised periodically and renewed biennially.
Head Start agencies are required to submit copies of their signed MOUs to their OHS Regional
Office and their State Director of Head Start Collaboration no later than 30 days after the parties
enter into the MOUs. If a grantee is told by the appropriate agency responsible for managing
publicly funded preschool in its service area, that the agency does not wish to enter into an MOU
with the Head Start grantee, the grantee should indicate this to its OHS Regional Office and its
State Collaboration Office.
Please direct any questions on this Memorandum to your OHS Regional Office.
/ Patricia E. Brown /
Patricia E. Brown
Acting Director
Office of Head Start
Statutory Degree and Credentialing Requirements for Head Start Teaching Staff
ACE
Administration for Children and
Families
U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
1. Log No. ACF-IM-HS-
08-12
2, Issuance Date:
08/19/2008
3. Originating Office: Office of Head Start
4. Key Word: Classroom staff qualifications
INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
TO: Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies
SUBJECT: Statutory Degree and Credentialing Requirements for Head Start Teaching Staff
INFORMATION:
Attached is a discussion of those statutory requirements related to the qualifications for center -based Head
Start and Early Head Start teaching staff. Please direct any questions on this Information Memorandum to
your OHS Regional Office.
/Patricia E. Brown/
Patricia E. Brown
Acting Director
Office of Head Start
Head Start
What are the current requirements for Head Start teacher qualifications?
Each Head Start classroom in center -based programs must have a teacher who has at least one of the
following qualifications:
1. A Child Development Associate (CDA) credential that is appropriate to the age of the children
being served;
2. A State -awarded certificate for preschool teachers that meets or exceeds the requirements for a
Child Development Associate (CDA) credential; (Please contact your regional office to determine if
your state's certificate meets the requirements for a CDA.)
3. An associate, baccalaureate or advanced degree in early childhood education;
4. An associate degree in a field related to early childhood education and coursework equivalent to a
major relating to early childhood education with experience teaching preschool -age children;
5. A baccalaureate or advanced degree in any field and coursework equivalent to a major relating to
early childhood education with experience teaching preschool -age children or;
6. A baccalaureate degree in any field and has been admitted into the Teach For America program,
passed a rigorous early childhood content exam, such as the Praxis II, participated in a Teach For
America summer training institute that includes teaching preschool children, and is receiving
ongoing professional development and support from Teach For America's professional staff.
However, a 180 -day waiver may be granted to the above requirement if a Head Start agency can
demonstrate it has attempted unsuccessfully to recruit a qualified candidate and the individual for whom
the waiver is being requested is enrolled in a program that will award that individual a qualifying credential,
certificate or degree within 180 days of being hired as a teacher.
What will the requirements for Head Start Teachers be as of October 1, 2011?
By October 1, 2011, each Head Start classroom in center -based programs must have a teacher who has
at least one of the following:
1. An associate, baccalaureate or advanced degree in early childhood education;
2. An associate degree in a field related to early childhood education and coursework equivalent to a
major relating to early childhood education, with experience teaching preschool -age children;
3. A baccalaureate or advanced degree in any field and coursework equivalent to a major relating to
early childhood education, with experience teaching preschool -age children or;
4. A baccalaureate degree in any field and has been admitted into the Teach For America program,
passed a rigorous early childhood content exam, such as the Praxis II, participated in a Teach For
America summer training institute that includes teaching preschool children and is receiving
ongoing professional development and support from Teach For America's professional staff.
However, a 3 -year waiver can be granted to the above requirement if a Head Start agency can
demonstrate it has attempted unsuccessfully to recruit a qualified candidate and the individual for whom
the waiver is being requested is enrolled in a program that will grant that individual a qualifying degree in a
reasonable time period. If such a waiver is granted, there must be, in that individual's classroom, a teacher
with a CDA credential appropriate to the age of the children being served or an individual with a State
awarded certificate for preschool teachers that meets or exceeds the requirements of a CDA credential.
What will the requirements for Head Start Teachers be as of September 30, 2013?
By September 30, 2013 at least 50% of Head Start teachers nation-wide must have a baccalaureate or
advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or a baccalaureate or advanced degree in any subject, and
coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education with experience teaching preschool -
age children.
OHS expects every grantee to make reasonable progress in increasing its numbers of teachers with
qualifying BA degrees but there is not a requirement for each grantee to assure that at least 50% of its
teachers have such degrees. The requirements established in 2011 for every Head Start teacher will
continue to apply.
What counts as "coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education"?
Coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education includes but is not limited to
courses that focus on child development, early childhood education and curriculum, early childhood
teaching and assessment, psychology, family development, health and physical development,
mathematics, science, and children's literature. Such courses may be offered in various departments, such
as Education, Home Economics, Music, Art, Library Sciences, Physical Education and Recreation,
Psychology, Family Studies, and others. It is up to each prospective employee to provide the Head Start
program with information on the college credit courses taken and to demonstrate that the courses address
early childhood education or child development with a focus on children ages 3 to 5. Programs must
examine the college transcripts and review course descriptions or syllabi to determine the relevance of the
courses to the Head Start program.
Head Start agencies in states that license or certify state Pre -K teachers may also choose to accept the
type(s) and numbers) of courses recognized by the local school district or state education agency as
qualifying teachers to teach pre-school aged children in that school district or state as "coursework
equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education" as long as they also have experience teaching
pre-school aged children.
Does a person with an associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree in a field other than early
childhood education need experience teaching preschool -age children in addition to the courses
equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education?
Yes. An individual who has a degree in another field must have experience in an early childhood setting
with children ages 3 to 5 in addition to courses equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education
to meet the qualifications mandate for Head Start teachers. The Act does not prescribe either the kind or
duration of qualifying experience; each grantee should establish its own criteria.
Does a person with an early childhood degree need additional experience in working with children
to be qualified as a Head Start teacher?
No. A teacher who has an associate, baccalaureate or advanced degree does not need additional work
experience with children to be qualified as a preschool Head Start teacher.
What are the qualification requirements for Teacher aides/assistants?
By September 30, 2013 all teaching assistants in center -based programs must:
• Have a child development associate (CDA) credential;
• Be enrolled in a CDA credential program that will be completed within 2 years; or
• Have an associate or baccalaureate degree (in any area) or be enrolled in a program leading to such a
degree.
What are the qualification requirements for education coordinators?
By September 30, 2013 all education coordinators (including those that serve as curriculum specialists),
nationwide in center -based programs must have:
• A baccalaureate or advanced degree in early childhood education; or
• A baccalaureate or advanced degree in any subject and coursework equivalent to a major relating to
early childhood education with experience teaching preschool -age children.
Early Head Start
What are the current requirements for Early Head Start teacher qualifications?
Current Head Start regulations require Early Head Start teachers to have a CDA credential for Infant and
Toddler Caregivers, or an equivalent credential that addresses comparable competencies within one year
of hire as a teacher of infants and toddlers.
What will be the requirements for Early Head Start Teachers as of September 30, 2010?
By September 30, 2010, all Early Head Start teachers must have, at a minimum, a CDA credential and
have been trained (or have equivalent coursework) in early childhood development.
What will be the requirements for Early Head Start Teachers as of September 30, 2012?
By September 30, 2012 all Early Head Start teachers must meet the above requirement and be trained (or
have equivalent coursework) in early childhood development with a focus on infant and toddler
development.
Additional Information
Head Start agencies are encouraged to maintain —in the personnel files of all teachers, teaching
assistants, and education coordinators —a statement identifying which documents were examined to
determine that the relevant qualification requirements were met.
Each Head Start agency is required to submit an annual report on its progress in meeting the requirements
discussed in this memorandum. OHS will provide more information on this report in the near future.
Section 648A(2)(C)(i)(III) precludes OHS from imposing any penalties or sanctions for any agency failing to
meet either the requirement that all education coordinators must have a BA degree or the requirement that
all teaching assistants must have a CDA. OHS will provide additional information on this in the future.
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