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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.

Build on a Responsive Community Assessment

The community assessment is a way to jumpstart the program planning process. Learn how the assessment helps Head Start programs provide key services to the children and families that need them.

Voices from the Field

Watch these video clips to see how data analysis and the planning cycle comes to life in Head Start programs.

Program Planning

Thoughtful planning is critical to programming. Explore these resources for guidance through the five-year grant. Learn how to establish continuous cycles of improvement that involve key stakeholders in data-based decision-making.

Self-assessment: Your Annual Journey

Use this nine-phase interactive learning module to walk through through the process of planning and executing an annual Head Start program self-assessment.

Conducting Public Forums and Listening Sessions

Nothing ensures the success of a program more than community participation in assessing their perceived needs, strengths, and hopes for the future. Programs can use this resource to plan and coordinate their community assessment. It provides insight into public forums and listening sessions. Learn how to conduct them to engage your community in identifying and solving problems.