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Common Terms and AP Exceptions

The following words and terms are commonly used in Head Start content. These include exceptions to Associated Press (AP) style. Note use of uppercase vs. lowercase.

A | C | D | E | F | H | I | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | W | Z | # | Section 508 Inclusive Language

A

  • Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
  • American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN)
  • audiocast; audio conference

C

  • Caring for Our Children (CFOC) — do not use extended title
  • chairman or chairwoman rather than chairperson
  • child care
  • Child Care State Capacity Building Center (SCBC)
  • Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS): Pre-K® or CLASS® — Include trademark symbol (®) on first use in general content
  • continuing education units (CEUs)
  • COVID-19

D

  • day care
  • decision-making
  • dual language learner (DLL)

E

  • early childhood education (ECE)
  • Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) — include acronym even if only used once
  • Early Head Start (EHS)
  • Early Head Start-Child Care (EHS-CC) Partnerships
  • Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF)
  • email

F

  • FAQs (never spell out)
  • federal (only capitalize as part of a name, like the Federal Reserve or Federal Register)
  • five-year grant periods

H

  • hand-washing
  • Head Start 
    • Never abbreviate as "HS"
    • Use only as an adjective, not as a noun which violates copyright — e.g., Head Start programs
    • Umbrella term for all Head Start Preschool, Early Head Start, MSHS, and AIAN programs
  • Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five (ELOF)
  • Head Start Program Performance Standards (the Performance Standards)
  • health care
  • homelessness — people before circumstance (e.g., children experiencing homelessness)

I

  • Indigenous
  • Indigenous Knowledge
  • Individualized Education Program (IEP)
  • Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)
  • in-service
  • internet

L

  • Latino
  • LGBTQIA2S+ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, two-spirit, or additional sexual orientations and gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender]
  • locally-designed, as a program option
  • low-income

M

  • mealtime
  • Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS)

N

  • Native
  • "No." as the abbreviation of number rather than "#" followed by a numeral (e.g., No. 1)
  • nonfederal
  • nonprofit

O

  • Office of Head Start (OHS)
  • Office of Head Start Training and Technical Assistance (OHS TTA) System
    • National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment (NCASE)
    • National Center on Child Care Subsidy Innovation and Accountability (SIAC)
    • National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning (NCECDTL)
    • National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety (NCHBHS)
    • National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance (the ECQA Center)
    • National Center on Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships (the Partnership Center)
    • National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (NCPFCE)
    • National Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations (NCPMFO)
    • National Center on Tribal Child Care Implementation and Innovation (NTC)
  • OK, not okay
  • ongoing
  • online

P

  • percent: use the % sign
  • Policy Council
  • Practice-Based Coaching (professional development strategy)
  • pregnant women and pregnant people ("expectant families" may be used in place to avoid excessive repetition)
  • prekindergarten, pre-K
  • preschool

Q

  • Q&A (never spell out)

R

  • read-alouds
  • recordkeeping
  • Regions: list numbers as Roman numerals (e.g., Regions I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII)
  • Regional Office

S

  • seasons (all are lowercase: spring, summer, fall, and winter)
  • social and emotional (do not hyphenate)
  • spokesman or spokeswoman, not spokesperson
  • state

T

  • territory
  • toll-free
  • toward, not towards
  • training and technical assistance (TTA)
  • tribe, tribal, Tribal Council

U

  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

W

  • web, website, webpage
  • well-child visit
  • workspace

Z

  • Zero to Three

Numbers

  • 15-minute In-service Suites

Section 508 Inclusive Language

  • Use appropriate terms, such as "select" and "follow" rather than "click." Screen reader users rely on keyboard functions and do not use a mouse.
  • Consider that not everyone can "watch," "hear," or "listen" when giving directives.

For Spanish terminology, refer to the Head Start Bilingual Glossary.

Read more:

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