Head Start Self-Assessment: Your Foundation for Building Program Excellence

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Program Self-Assessment Booklet 17

Program Design: Facilities, Materials, Equipment, and Transportation

Core Question to be answered by Self-Assessment team:

How does the grantee ensure that the facilities, materials, equipment and transportation services are supportive of learning and reflective of different ages and stages of development of each child including children with disabilities, and that appropriate space is provided for the conduct of all program activities?

Purpose:

The objective is to ensure that Head Start’s physical environment and transportation services supports the delivery of high quality services to all children and families. This booklet will help the Self-Assessment team to determine if the program meets Federal Performance Standards relating to facilities, materials, equipment and transportation. Related Performance Standards include: 1304.21(a)(4)(iv); 1304.21(a)(5)-1304.21(a)(6); 1304.22(e)(7);1304.23(e); 1304.53(a)(1)-1304.53(a)(5); 1304.53(a)(7)-1304.53(a)(9); 1304.53(a)(10)(iv); 1304.53(a) (10)(xiv)-1304.53(a)(10)(xv); 1304.53(a)(10)(xvii); 1304.53(b); 1306.30(c); 1308.4(o)(4)-1308.4(o)(6); 1310.10; 1310.12(b); 1310.13-1310.15(b); 1310.15(d); 1310.20; 1310.22(b); 1310.23; 45 CFR 84.5

As you conduct your assessment of the program’s facilities, materials, equipment, and transportation, pay close attention to how:

• Inspections, maintenance and repairs are carried out
• The need for materials and equipment is determined and how they are ordered
• Programs comply with all relevant Federal, state, and local requirements regarding facilities and transportation vehicles

Adapted versions of the PRISM Health and Safety Checklist, and Transportation Services Checklist have been included. Team members may find them to be helpful tools in assessing the program’s facilities, materials, equipment and transportation services. Other helpful tools to support data collection in this area follow.

Review:

Ask the Head Start director and/or responsible manager to provide you with access to the following licenses, inspections and other documents:

• Child care
• Sanitation
• Fire/safety
• Food handlers
• Other locally required licenses
• Ongoing monitoring reports
• Vehicle maintenance logs
• Important data sources relevant to this area such as the PRISM report, PIR data, Community Assessment, strategic plan or short and long term program goals

In addition, ask your team leader to provide you with copies of the following policies and procedures and check the appropriate box:

Download policies and procedures checklist (pdf) here

Observe:

The Self-Assessment team member should visit a number of centers and classrooms (including family child care homes) and complete the attached Health and Safety Checklist and the Transportation Services Checklist. Share your results with the team administering the booklet on Prevention and Early Intervention. The checklist results will also assist them in their work.

Interview

The Self-Assessment team member should interview management staff responsible for facilities and materials. Use the questions below to assist you with interviews:

How do you make sure that the program’s facilities, materials, equipment, and transportation services are appropriate for the children you serve?
______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

How do you make sure that the program’s facilities, materials, equipment and transportation services are appropriate for children with disabilities?
______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

When choosing a facility, what things do you consider?
______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

How do you ensure that the facilities, materials and equipment are accessible and useful to persons with disabilities?
______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Besides classroom space, what are the other uses for space in your Head Start facilities?
_______________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

How do you ensure that arrangements and space, as well as types and uses of materials and equipment support the curriculum?
______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

How do you ensure that facilities are free of toxins such as smoke, lead, pesticides and herbicides?
______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

How do you ensure that required inspections, maintenance and repairs are taking place and the facility is in compliance with all other relevant Federal, state, tribal and local requirements?
______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Incorporating Relevant Data Sources:

Additional observations, document reviews, or interview questions that this team may choose to add:
___________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

Include any key insights you may have learned from reviewing important data sources such as the PRISM report, PIR data, Community Assessment, strategic plan or short and long term program goals:
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

Health and Safety Checklist

Place a check in the box when you observe evidence of each of the items listed. Describe any problems or concerns you witness in the comment section.

Note: duplicate this page if your team is assessing more than four classrooms.

Click on links below to download appropriate checklist form.

For Early Head Start Infant/Toddler classrooms only

All Classrooms

Indoor Facilities

Safety

Facility Layout and Environment

Provision for Emergencies

Medication Administration and Outdoors

Transportation Services Checklist (Adapted from PRISM ‘05)
Download entire Transporation Services Checklist here

The checklist has been numbered for easy reference and separated into four categories:

• Facilities, Materials, Equipment and Transportation (Questions 1-13)
• Early Childhood Development and Health Services (Questions 14-22)
• Family and Community Partnerships (Questions 23-27)
• Program Design and Management (Questions 28-40)

Team Member Summary Worksheet

Summary of Results for for Facilities, Materials, Equipment, and Transportation

Areas where the program is working well. Provide examples of program strengths or areas where the program exceeds Performance Standards:
______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Areas where the program needs improvement:
______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Additional areas of concern:
______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

TEAM LEADER BOOKLET ANALYSIS

Booklet # ____________
Booklet Name: ______________________________________________________________________________

Program Strengths	Data Source
Specific Program Weaknesses and Areas to Strengthen	Data Source