Identify the duties and rules related to a Head Start program’s Policy Council, management staff, and governing body/Tribal Council.

The Governance Readiness Assessment helps organizations review their processes. Governing bodies can use it to assess their capacity to oversee and monitor a Head Start program.

This screener identifies ways to improve program governance and build leadership capacity. The accompanying form certifies that programs conducted the required screening.

The governing body must certify that a governance and leadership capacity screening was conducted and a training plan was developed. A certification must be submitted to the Office of Head Start (OHS) in the Head Start Enterprise System (HSES) within 75 calendar days of the start of the project period.

Head Start leaders who implement strong governance systems often face important questions. When such questions arise, leaders should refer first to key Head Start policy and regulation.