The Head Start Program Performance Standards
The Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) define standards and minimum requirements for all Head Start services. They apply to both Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The standards serve as the foundation for the Head Start program's mission to deliver comprehensive, high-quality individualized services supporting the school readiness of children from families with low income.
The HSPPS were revised in 2016 to strengthen and improve the quality of Head Start programs. The streamlined standards were the first comprehensive revision of the HSPPS since they were originally published in 1975. The HSPPS reflect best practices and the latest research on early childhood development and brain science. They give grant recipients flexibility in achieving positive child and family outcomes and encourage the use of data to track progress and reach goals in all program areas.
Head Start Act
On Dec. 12, 2007, President George W. Bush signed the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 , reauthorizing the Head Start program.
The law had several provisions to strengthen Head Start quality:
- Alignment of Head Start school readiness goals with state early learning standards
- Higher qualifications for the Head Start teaching workforce
- State Advisory Councils on Early Care and Education in every state
- Increased program monitoring, including a review of child outcomes and annual financial audits
- Redesign of the Office of Head Start training and technical assistance system to support programs' success through National Centers and state-based systems
- Development of a system of designation renewal for grants
- Revision of the HSPPS
Program Instructions
A Program Instruction (PI) addresses a specific requirement that Head Start grant recipients and delegate agencies must implement in their programs. Check out this list of all PIs issued by the Office of Head Start since 2010.
Information Memorandum
An Information Memorandum (IM) is a targeted communication tool from the Office of Head Start which provides policy information to Head Start and Early Head Start grant recipients and delegate agencies. Check out this list of all IMs issued by the Office of Head Start since 2010.