Sustainability Planning and Head Start Programs
Explore sustainability strategies that can help programs thrive in the face of anticipated and unexpected opportunities and challenges.
Program Planning
Thoughtful planning is critical to programming. Explore these resources for guidance throughout the five-year Head Start grant cycle. Learn how to establish continuous cycles of improvement that involve key stakeholders in data-based decision-making. Find resources to help build on achievable program and school readiness goals and fiscal objectives. Discover materials that guide grantees in creating community and self-assessments, and achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
Program planning and service system design together make up one of the 12 management, planning, and oversight systems of the Management Systems Wheel.
Readiness for Change Assessment Tool
Use this tool to engage teams in discussions that gauge their thinking and readiness to move forward with a change initiative.
How the Planning Cycle Helped a Program Achieve a Key Goal
This Management Minute video shares how one Head Start program used the program planning cycle to achieve a key goal.
Self-Assessment: Building on Strengths and Improving Systems
Learn about the standards, expectations, and best practices that guide the annual self-assessment, an integral step in improving responsive programs.
Pandemic Programmatic and Community Update
Use this matrix to strategically plan early childhood education program operations and services during a pandemic.
Services and Coordinated Approaches
Explore how a community assessment can help mobilize community resources and partnerships.
Community Assessment: The Foundation for Program Planning in Head Start
Explore community assessment standards and best practices. Learn how community assessments help programs remain responsive to the children and families they serve.
Why Conduct a Community Assessment?
Consider how the data gathered during a community assessment will be used to inform strategic planning, goal setting, and decision-making.
What Is Included in a Community Assessment?
Review what should be included in a community assessment.
Foundations for Excellence
Review a range of planning topics to support programs’ successful completion of the Head Start grant application, and to ensure programming is responsive to community needs throughout the five-year grant period.