1302.18 Fees.
This standard explains the policy that makes Head Start services free to eligible children and identifies allowable fees for programs.
Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA) tasks are some of the most important work performed by Head Start programs. ERSEA governs how programs determine eligibility, enroll children, and track attendance. Discover resources to help programs assess the needs of their communities and recruit the children and families most in need. Explore materials and tools to help programs market their services, and develop and implement selection criteria. Also, find resources to identify community partners and better address community needs.
This standard explains the policy that makes Head Start services free to eligible children and identifies allowable fees for programs.
This standard clearly prohibits the expulsion of children from Head Start programs and sets strict limitations on the use of temporary suspension.
To promote regular attendance, programs must have a system to track attendance for each enrolled child. Review this standard for clarity around implementation strategies and managing attendance issues.
Programs must maintain their funded enrollment level and fill any vacancy as soon as possible. Explore this standard for enrollment regulations and expectations.
Programs are required to use their community assessment to establish selection criteria that prioritize certain children and families. Review this standard as a guide to build a compliant selection process.
Programs must develop and implement a process to locate and recruit eligible children in their services area. Review this standard to learn about specific recruitment areas and how to serve special populations.
Eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance (ERSEA) tasks are some of the most important work performed by Head Start programs.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides information that will assist programs in determining the gross income of those families with members in the armed forces. Family service staff will find this information beneficial in determining the eligibility of children of military families for enrollment in the Head Start program.
The HHS Poverty Guidelines are used to determine income eligibility for participation in Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Program staff may refer to these resources when working with families.
Research on continuity of care has found that instability is high with low-income families. Extending eligibility redeterminations to 12 months or more provides financial stability for families. It also gives continuous early care and education for children.