The Office of Head Start (OHS) requires National Centers and others who post to the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) to forecast upcoming events and other products using the Forecast/Submission of Products Smartsheet. These training and technical assistance (TTA) forecasts are shared with federal staff, other National Centers, and the early childhood field in various ways.
Smartsheet Forecasting
It is important to add and update the forecast as products are being planned. OHS and the Head Start Information and Communications Center (HSICC) distribute forecasts of National Centers' events and resources because:
- Users want to mark their calendars early with your events
- OHS and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) need time to review plans and communications
Consider forecasting of Spanish and bilingual events in accordance with Spanish E-blasts standards.
Upcoming Events E-blast
While National Centers continue regular promotional activities (e.g., registration e-blasts), OHS promotes all events forecasted in advance for the next quarter.
Two weeks before a new quarter, a list of upcoming events is sent to all ECLKC users and OHS/ACF Regional and Central Office leadership.
The Upcoming Events e-blast:
- Features events that are open to all users
- Includes the following federal project officer (FPO)-approved assets:
- Titles
- Event description
- 3–5 sentences to briefly describe the event and how it applies to the Head Start program
- Registration links
Important Dates and Deadlines
- Add and update events in Smartsheet as you plan them, or at least by the first of each month
- 15 days before each quarterly forecast period, make sure all FPO-vetted event descriptions and registration links are on Smartsheet.
| Quarterly Event Forecast Period | Events Smartsheet Forecast Due | "Upcoming Events" E-blast Disseminated |
|---|---|---|
| January-March | Dec. 1 | Dec. 15 |
| April-June | March 1 | March 15 |
| July-September | June 1 | June 15 |
| October-December | Sept. 1 | Sept. 15 |
Monthly "New on the ECLKC" E-blast
At the beginning of each month, the "New on ECLKC" e-blast is sent to users. It is a breakdown of new resources and e-blasts posted to the ECLKC and disseminated by OHS over the previous month. It also includes a list of events for the current month. The list may include events added too late for the quarterly forecast.
The events section in the "New on ECLKC" e-blast:
- Features events that are open to all and posted on ECLKC Upcoming Events calendar
- Includes the following FPO-approved assets:
- Registration link
- Finalized title
Important Dates and Deadlines
Visit the E-blast section for more about the approvals process and timelines.
Resources Forecast
OHS/ACF Regional and Central Office leadership expects to view a list of resources forecasted for the upcoming months. This information is first collected and shared through the Forecast/Submission of Products Smartsheet. Resources should be added to the forecast approximately 180 days prior to expected release.
- Is not shared with ECLKC users
- Features resources that will be posted on ECLKC or created for regional TTA
- Must include FPO-approved:
- Finalized titles
- Brief product descriptions
- Approx. three sentences each
- A best estimate of when a resource will be available
Last Updated: March 11, 2024