New Directors' Toolkit

Head Start Program Performance Standards
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/performance/index.htm
     The Head Start Program Performance Standards are the mandatory regulations that grantees and delegate agencies must implement in order to operate a Head Start program. The standards define the objectives and features of a quality Head Start program in concrete terms; they articulate a vision of service delivery to young children and families; and they provide a regulatory structure for the monitoring and enforcement of quality standards.

Head Start Act
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/budget/headstartact.htm
     The "Head Start Act" is Title VI, Subtitle A, Chapter 8, Subchapter B of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, P.L. 97-35 (8/13/81).

Prism

PRISM Guide and PRISM All Instruments 2006
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/PRISM_2006/index.htm
      PRISM Guide and All Instruments 2006 reflect a number of changes. Grantees, Federal and non-Federal Team Leaders and reviewers use this resource in reviewing and monitoring Head Start programs. New elements in the process include: a new software system; focus on compliance with Head Start standards and other requirements; protocols that provide an overarching framework as well as detailed guidance for reviewers; revised Fiscal Checklist; modified Core Questions.

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

Code of Federal Regulations
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/
     The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is a codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the Executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government.   The CFR is divided into 50 titles which represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation. Each title is divided into chapters which usually bear the name of the issuing agency.  The CFR citations below are extracted from Title 45, Public Welfare programs, Subchapter A, General Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services, in which Head Start resides.

45 CFR 16 - Procedures of the Departmental Grants Appeals Board
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_99/45cfr16_99.html

45 CFR 74 - Uniform Grants Administration Regulations
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_99/45cfr74_99.html
     Uniform administrative requirements for awards and subawards to institutions of higher education, hospitals, other nonprofit organizations, and commercial organizations; and certain grants and agreements with States, local governments and Indian tribal governments.

45 CFR 80 - Nondiscrimination Under Programs Receiving Federal Assistance Through The Department of Health and Human Services Effectuation Of Title VI Of The Civil Rights Act of 1964
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_99/45cfr80_99.html

45 CFR 92 - Uniform administrative requirements for grants and cooperative agreements to State and local Governments.
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_99/45cfr92_99.html

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/

OMB Circular A-21, dated 08/08/00
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a021/a021.html
     This Circular establishes principles for determining costs applicable to grants, contracts, and other agreements with educational institutions. The principles deal with the subject of cost  determination, and make no attempt to identify the circumstances or dictate the extent of agency and institutional participation in the financing of a particular project. The principles are designed to provide that the Federal Government bear its fair share of total costs, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, except where restricted or prohibited by law. Agencies are not expected to place additional restrictions on individual items of cost. Provision for profit or other increment above cost is outside the scope of this Circular.

OMB Circular A-87, dated 05/04/95, further amended 08/29/97
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a087/a087-all.html
     Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments

OMB Circular A-102, dated 10/07/94, further amended 08/29/97
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a102/a102.html
     Grants and Cooperative Agreements With State and   Local Governments

OMB Circular A-110, dated 11/19/93, further amended 09/30/99
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a110/a110.html
     Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations

OMB Circular A-122, dated 06/01/98
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a122/a122.html
     Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations

OMB 2004 Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement. Federal Register: April 30, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 84) Page 23825
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-9799.htm
     The 2004 Supplement will apply to audits performed under OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, of fiscal years beginning after June 30, 2003 and must be in writing and received by October 29, 2004.
     The 2004 Supplement adds three programs, deletes three programs, updates for program changes, and makes technical corrections. A list of changes from the 2003 Supplement can be found at Appendix V of the 2004 Supplement. Due to its length, the 2004 Supplement is not included in this notice. [The supplement will be on-line at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/index-ffm.html]
     Until the document is available on-line, recipients should contact their cognizant or oversight agency for audit, or Federal awarding agency, as appropriate under the circumstances. Subrecipients should contact their pass-through entity. Federal agencies should contact Gilbert Tran, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Federal Financial Management, telephone (202) 395-3993.

Web Resources

Head Start Fiscal Assistant
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/hsfa/
     Plain language narratives of Federal requirements for nineteen fiscal topics, FAQs, and a library of relevant documents provide guidance for Head Start managers and fiscal staff. Browse or search the Head Start program resource to find the relevant information.

Program Instruction (PI) - 01 Applicability of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/im01/pi01_01.htm
     The PI establishes that private non-profit and for-profit grantees are subject to the requirements of the FLSA by virtue of being engaged in the operation of a "pre-school." The major requirements include: coverage of all employees except executive, administrative and professional defined as exempt, covered employees are entitled to not less than the current minimum wage, specific record keeping requirements, covered employees must be paid overtime after 40 hours of work in a workweek, training which is not voluntary is considered work time.

Head Start Fact Sheet – FY2006
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/research/2006.htm
     This latest Head Start Statistical Fact Sheet covers data for appropriations and enrollment at the state and national levels (some historical).  It also provides statements about national statistics that illuminate family and program profiles for the operating period.

Information Memorandum on Income Guidelines
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/im06/im06_02.htm
      Section 645 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840) establishes income eligibility for participation in Head Start programs by reference to the official poverty line, adjusted annually in accordance with changes in the Consumer Price Index. The attached Family Income Guidelines, published in the Federal Register reflect revised poverty data and must be used to determine Head Start eligibility for low-income families.

Management Issues Bibliography
http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/guides/mi_intro.htm
     Management Issues provides a list of books and journal articles which may be of interest to people in managerial positions. Topics include: leadership, organizational effectiveness, strategic planning, and team training.

Head Start Acronyms List
http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/acro.htm

Head Start Dictionary
http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/hsdictionary.htm

Checklist for New Directors
http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/checklist.htm
     This itemized list presents the essential documents that new directors may assemble for easy access to crucial information in the following areas:  Funding, Program Operation, Reports, Deadlines, and Essential Contacts.

Publications

Head Start Self-Assessment Guide
http://www.headstartinfo.org/self_assessment/table_of_contents.htm
     The Self-Assessment process, mandated to be done annually, involves the collection of information from a variety of sources to determine if systems and services have been implemented and are working effectively.

The Statement of the Advisory Committee on Services for Families with Infants and Toddlers. 
http://www.bmcc.edu/Headstart/Advse_Commtte/index.html
     This document reflects the suggestions and comments made by the Advisory Committee for the design of the Early Head Start Program.

Creating A 21st Century Head Start
http://www.bmcc.edu/Headstart/21Century/index.html
     This report presents recommendations and principles to help quide priorities; improve the quality of services; and expand the number or children served and the scope of services provided.

Training Guides
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/train_ab.htm
     N.B. The links below will not lead you to the full-texts of the cited Training Guides; rather, they will lead you to an order form for each Training Guide that can be mailed to you free of charge.

Participating in the Management Process
http://www.headstartinfo.org/cgi-bin/pubcatstore.cfm?CatID=139&do=detail
     This foundation guide introduces Head Start staff and parents to the concepts that management is a team process; everyone plays a part in achieving a quality program; and change is an element that Head Start programs must continuously address.

Leading Head Start into the Future
http://www.headstartinfo.org/cgi-bin/pubcatstore.cfm?CatID=141&do=detail
     This training guide is designed to build self-awareness using tools to assess organizational needs and identifying and modeling the characteristics of effective leaders.

Cultivating Successful Management Teams
http://www.headstartinfo.org/cgi-bin/pubcatstore.cfm?CatID=168&do=detail
     This training guide focuses on working cooperatively by assessing individual and team  behavior; demonstrating collaborative decision making techniques; and developing essential skills to build a supportive team relationship.

Fostering Program Governance
http://www.headstartinfo.org/cgi-bin/pubcatstore.cfm?CatID=169&do=detail
     This training guide helps orient Head Start Directors, managers, parents and volunteers to the duties and  responsibilities of Policy Councils and boards. Participants will practice program and organizational planning; review assessment tools; discuss shared decision making; practice organizational planning; and discuss issues related to working with volunteers.

Planning and Reviewing for Success
http://www.headstartinfo.org/cgi-bin/pubcatstore.cfm?CatID=170&do=detail
     This training guide prepares participants for developing strategic and operational plans and emphasizes  the importance of program evaluation. Topics include developing long- and short-range goals; building project management skills and evaluating how effectively program objectives have been met.

New Directors and Technology
     These are the Technology Planning handouts prepared for the New Director's Conference Technology Day held March 2, 2001.
Technology Planning Handouts (PDF, 81.1KB)
Additional Technology Planning Handouts PowerPoint Presentation