"Program environment" refers to the features and physical setting of the program, which affect the interactions and relationships families and staff experience. High-quality program environments help protect the health and safety of children, families, and staff. They make families feel welcomed, valued, and respected. They also promote children's well-being, learning, and development. High-quality environments facilitate cultural and linguistic responsiveness, promote open and regular communication, and provide a sense of support to families. These environments create opportunities for families to build relationships with other Head Start parents and community organizations.
Key Resources
Framework Resources
- Bringing the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework to Your Program: Beginning a Self-Assessment—Program Environment
- Building Partnerships: Guide to Developing Relationships with Families
- Program Environments: Responsive Programming for Migrant Families
- Parent committees, 45 CFR § 1301.4 (b), (b)(2)
- Training, 45 CFR § 1301.5
- Determining, verifying, and documenting eligibility, 45 CFR § 1302.12 (m), (m)(1), (m)(1)(ii)
- Attendance, 45 CFR § 1302.16 (c), (c)(1)
- Suspension and expulsion, 45 CFR § 1302.17 (a), (a)(1)–(3)–(4), (a)(4)(i)–(iv)
- Family child care option, 45 CFR § 1302.23 (e), (e)(3)
- Purpose, 45 CFR § 1302.30
- Teaching and the learning environment, 45 CFR § 1302.31 (a)–(b), (b)(1), (b)(1)(i)–(iv), (b)(2), (b)(2)(i)–(iii), (c), (c)(1)–(2), (d)–(e), (e)(1)–(4)
- Curricula, 45 CFR § 1302.32 (b)
- Child screenings and assessments, 45 CFR § 1302.33 (a), (a)(1), (c), (c)(1)–(2), (c)(2)(i)–(iii), (c)(3)–(4)
- Parent and family engagement in education and child development services, 45 CFR § 1302.34 (a)–(b), (b)(2)–(4),(6),(8)
- Education in home-based programs, 45 CFR § 1302.35 (a)–(b), (b)(1)–(4), (c), (c)(2), (c)(4), (c)(4)(i)
- Tribal language preservation and revitalization, 45 CFR § 1302.36
- Purpose, 45 CFR § 1302.40 (a)
- Collaboration and communication with parents, 45 CFR § 1302.41 (a)–(b), (b)(1)–(2)
- Child health status and care, 45 CFR § 1302.42 (b), (b)(4), (c), (c)(1)–(2), (d), (d)(2)
- Child nutrition, 45 CFR § 1302.44 (a), (a)(1)–(2), (a)(2)(i)–(x)
- Family support services for health, nutrition, and mental health, 45 CFR § 1302.46 (a)–(b), (b)(1), (b)(1)(ii), (iv)
- Safety practices, 45 CFR § 1302.47 (a)–(b), (b)(1), (b)(1)(i)–(ix), (b)(2), (b)(2)(i)–(v)
- Family engagement, 45 CFR § 1302.50 (a)–(b), (b)(2), (b)(5)
- Parent activities to promote child learning and development, 45 CFR § 1302.51 (a), (a)(1)–(3), (b)
- Community partnerships and coordination with other early childhood and education programs, 45 CFR § 1302.53 (a), (a)(1)–(2), (a)(2)(i)–(iii)
- Additional services for children, 45 CFR § 1302.61 (c), (c)(2), (c)(2)(i)–(ii)
- Additional services for parents, 45 CFR § 1302.62 (a), (a)(1)–(2), (b), (b)(1)–(4)
- Transitions from Head Start to kindergarten, 45 CFR § 1302.71 (a)-(b), (b)(1)–(2), (b)(2)(i)–(iv)
- Transitions between programs, 45 CFR § 1302.72 (a)–(c)
- Family partnership services for enrolled pregnant women, 45 CFR § 1302.82 (a)–(b)
- Personnel policies, 45 CFR § 1302.90 (a), (d), (d)(1)–(2)
- Staff qualifications and competency requirements, 45 CFR § 1302.91 (e), (e)(5)–(6), (e)(6)(i)–(ii)
- Training and professional development, 45 CFR § 1302.92 (b), (b)(5)
- Management system, 45 CFR § 1302.101 (b), (b)(1)–(2), (b)(2)(i), (iii)
- Achieving program goals, 45 CFR § 1302.102 (c), (c)(1)–(2), (c)(2)(i)–(iii)
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Last Updated: June 7, 2022