1 NHSA Update August 2016

2 51 years ago, President Lyndon B51 years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson created Head Start — a program designed to meet the emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs of preschool-aged children and their low-income families.

3 Our Mission To coalesce, inspire, and support the Head Start field as a leader in early childhood development and education. We are compelled to fulfill this mission by the promise of all the possible outcomes: one powerful, united Head Start voice; a collegial, collaborative Head Start field, one that is a valuable and valued partner and resource to early childhood development and education; nonpartisan support of an increased Federal commitment to Head Start; and, ultimately healthier, empowered children and families and stronger, more vibrant communities. Yasmina’s Intro, Mission

4 Our Vision Our vision is…to lead. To be the untiring voice that will not be quiet until every vulnerable child is served with the Head Start model of support for the whole child, the family, and the community. to advocate. To work diligently for policy changes that ensure all vulnerable children and families have what they need to succeed. Yasmina’s Intro, Mission

5 Our Impact 135+ Members of Congress participated in NHSA-led celebrations of Head Start’s 50th Anniversary. 250,000 people participated in NHSA’s #HeadStartWorks campaign by wearing a button and spreading word about Head Start In 2015 NHSA helped place 52 Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor written by Alumni from across the country. The National Head Start Alumni Network is a new initiative aimed at forging connections with and between Head Start’s 32 million alumni Yasmina’s Intro, Mission Who does NHSA speak for? NHSA represents the unified voice of 1,600 grantees, 200,000 staff and 1 million children. Over a half a billion dollar increase for Head Start in FY16, continuing with the consistent increases to Head Start in the past 6 years

6 Culture of understandingHead Start’s core elements Comprehensive services – health, mental health & nutrition – for the whole family Most vulnerable children and families Birth to 5 Parent/family engagement Culture of understanding and respect Federal to local funding YSV: Main Takeaways Robust performance standards Developmentally appropriate early childhood education Shared governance

7 Program Performance Standards Background and TimelineDecember 12, 2007 Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act is signed into law, calling for new Standards NHSA convenes the Head Start Standards Working Group and publishes recommendations for revising Standards June 16, 2015 Secretary Burwell announces the release of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) June 19, 2015 The NPRM is published in the Federal Register, initiating the 60-day comment period September 17, 2015 After a flurry of input that caused the comment period to be extended by 30 days, NHSA submits its final comments December 12, 2007: President Bush signs into law the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, reauthorizing Head Start and calling for revised standards. Over 18 months, members of the Head Start Standards Working Group convened by NHSA worked through many of the tricky questions about standards revision. In April 2014, the Working Group had a working draft of recommendations for the standards. June 16, 2015: Secretary Burwell announced the release of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the Head Start Program Performance Standards from a Head Start program in Chicago. The NPRM originally included a 60-day deadline for comments. The Head Start community was so active that the deadline was extended by 30 days. NHSA worked quickly during this time to review the NPRM and write comments to represent what is best for children and families, what is feasible for programs to implement, and the resources programs need to continue to be leaders in early childhood care and education.  After three months of webinars and calls and many drafts, the final comments were submitted September 17, 2015. NHSA's comments included sign-ons from 1,200 Head Start practitioners and advocates, including every national, regional, and state Head Start Association representing all Head Start and Early Head Start grantees - serving more than one million children and their families. Over 1,000 comments were submitted, and sign ons from over 200 programs, 800 individuals, and all state and regional HS associations

8 Program Performance Standards NHSA & Field PrioritiesDosage: Full Day/Full Year Family Engagement Local Flexibility

9 ??? Full Day/Full Year Proposed (NPRM) NHSA Comments New StandardsNHSA & Field Priorities Full Day/Full Year Proposed (NPRM) Programs serving 3 and 4 year olds would need to increase their service days to operate at least 180 days/year and 6 hours/day. NHSA Comments Increases in dosage (hours/day or days/year) should be a goal shaped by community need. Each program should work toward expanding access to slots with 1,020+ hours of center-based time per year over the next five-year grant period. New Standards ??? Old Standards: At least 128 days/year and 3.5 hours/day Proposed: Without additional funding, the NPRM estimates the total cost of implementing all changes would lead to 126,448 less children being served and 9,432 teachers’ jobs being lost; most of these losses would be driven by the cost of expanding access to full-day, full-school-year services. NHSA appreciates the early childhood research described in the NPRM that shows that children benefit from increased learning opportunities and we understand the vision for offering extensive services to all vulnerable children. However, the new limitations on program design in the NPRM would cause significant disruption to many communities, eliminating access for over one hundred thousand families and reducing the ability of communities to design services based on local resources and needs. NHSA position: Without additional funding and flexibility, expanding access to full-day, full-school-year preschool will be disruptive to many communities. In a voluntary survey of over 300 Head Start programs conducted by NHSA in the spring of 2015, more than 78% reported that they currently operate more than one of the current standard program options in their service area. NHSA believes expanding access to full-day, full school year programming is a good goal where it best suits community and family needs and when and where adequate resources are available. While expanding access to full-day Head Start is an important goal, resources are critical and the NPRM changes will do lasting damage to relationships and quality of programming across the country. NHSA recommended that full-day be one option that programs are encouraged to consider as they make local decisions about program design and that programs be allowed to align their calendars with partner LEAs or offer a minimum of 1,020 hours for Head Start, distributed across days as best meets local need. *3&4 year olds; at the time that the NPRM was released,  only 43% of Head Start preschool programs offer at least the proposed hours/days of service to children. Under the proposed standards, grantees would have had the ability to propose a “locally-designed program option variation” by HHS waiver once every 2 years. Dosage: the proposed rule also stated that programs must track attendance and intervene when children are chronically absent. This slide is meant for discussion purposes only.

10 ??? 2. Family Engagement Proposed (NPRM) NHSA Comments New StandardsNHSA & Field Priorities 2. Family Engagement Proposed (NPRM) The Proposed Rule included only requirements for general approaches to family engagement, de-emphasized the development of a single written plan, and no longer prescribed Parent Committees. NHSA Comments Family engagement should be strengthened through continued requirements for Family Partnership Agreements and stronger Shared Governance. New Standards ??? Old Standards: 1. Programs “must engage in a process of collaborative partnership building with parents to establish mutual trust and to identify family goals, strengths, and necessary services and other supports [and] must offer parents opportunities to develop and implement individualized family partnership agreements…” 2. Programs must afford “parents the opportunity to participate in the development and overall conduct of the program at the local level, including transportation assistance as appropriate. TWO main issues, both stemming from the NPRM’s attempt to shorten and make the Standards more user-friendly/shorter and less bureacratic: 1. Family Partnership Agreements NPRM Implications: No requirement for family collaboration or written plans Reduced family benefits, access and involvement Narrows the Head Start mission from a 2-generation approach that focuses on the child and strengthens the family to an approach that undermines the implications of the wellbeing of all families NHSA Comments: Continue requirements for written Family Partnership Agreements that focus on child development/school readiness and family stability/self-sufficiency because it inspires parents to become more involved in their children’s education, the education system, and Head Start community 2. Parent Committees NHSA Comments: NHSA recommends that OHS maintain the Parent Committees requirement. As parent committees may be challenging for some new Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships to implement, NHSA urges OHS to offer guidance about alternate approaches for partnerships settings. OHS should also consider creating a process for programs to propose alternate mechanisms for engaging families and measuring outcomes to document increased engagement. This slide is meant for discussion purposes only.

11 ??? 3. Local Flexibility Proposed (NPRM) NHSA Comments New StandardsNHSA & Field Priorities 3. Local Flexibility Proposed (NPRM) The Proposed Rule would require programs operating a model other than full-day center-based or family child care to get approval every two years and suggests programs would also have to shift slots to serve younger children if pre-K is offered in their communities, removing the combination and double session options, as well as home-based options for preschoolers. NHSA Comments The Office of Head Start should support local flexibility by establishing a process for agencies to apply for five year grants with the balance of slots between full-day, family child care, Early Head Start home-based, and locally-designed options that best meets community need. New Standards ??? Closely tied to Full Day/Full Year issue: In reality, no two Head Start programs are exactly the same. For 50 years, Head Start has been locally designed based on community needs, and this very ability to adapt each program to local strengths, resources, and needs is part of what has allowed programs to thrive from inner-cities to rural America. Local Design option via waiver still an option in NPRM NHSA Comment: NHSA recommended that, in preparation for the next five-year grants, the application process involve a thorough review of the Community Needs Assessment and the design of a five year grant with full-day, locally-designed, and family child care slots justified by the needs of the community, with flexibility to shift slots among the models over the course of the grant if needs or resources change. NHSA strongly recommended that OHS support local flexibility by establishing a process for agencies to apply for five year grants with the balance of slots between full-day, family child care, Early Head Start home-based, and locally-designed options that best meets community need. NHSA believes LDOs are most appropriate for other communities or families, and often for the most vulnerable families whose experiences of poverty, homelessness, health concerns, hunger, and so on require specialized programs. To that end, there should be simple, explicit processes for LDOs and sufficient time to implement and assess the outcomes of these options over a five year grant cycle. Decisions about LDOs should be based on robust Community Needs Assessments and integrated into the grant application and design process. There should be timely and straightforward mechanisms for having grants approved and no quotas for innovation or limitations on program flexibility to effectively address needs of struggling families Limiting or changing program options would be best discussed in the context of reauthorization, but in this process, lacking the opportunity to debate and refine policies, NHSA recommends specific provisions to protect flexibility for LDOs. This slide is meant for discussion purposes only.

12 Big Picture Perception of Head Start Preparing for Change RebrandingChanging due to research and activity and advocacy in the community Preparing for Change In the Administration and possibly Congress Rebranding The Head Start Advantage and Starting America Early Innovation as a Differentiator The first-ever Hackathon and Early Childhood Innovation Summit Perception of Head Start is changing for the better – due to research and community’s activity and advocacy Preparations for change in Administration and possibly Congress Rebranding – The Head Start Advantage (personal) and Starting America Early (patriotic) Innovation as a differentiator – starting with Hackathon and Early Childhood Innovation Summit This slide is meant for discussion purposes only.

13 The Importance of the Early Years:Early Skills Foster the Production of Later Skills

14 Budget & Appropriations Head Start Funding FY 2008-FY 2016Funding Level (thousand $’s) Recap of the past seven years – Head Start has done well especially in FY 2014 Federal Fiscal Year

15 FY 2017: NHSA’s Position Budget & AppropriationsFor FY 2017, NHSA supports the Administration’s request of a $434 million increase for Head Start with added flexibility for Quality Improvement Funds *Included within HS/EHS base funding. **The FY16 Enacted Appropriation and the FY17 President’s budget proposal allocated these funds to ONLY be used for expanding duration of services.  Includes dedicated $10 million, also contained within the Workforce Investments, to meeting rising costs within EHS expansion and CC partnership grants. Item FY16 Enacted FY17 President’s Budget Request Senate Appropriations FY17 NHSA Recommendation Total $9,168,095,000 $9,601,724,000 $9,203,095,000 Head Start/Early Head Start Base $8,533,095,000 $8,956,724,000 $8,568,095,000 *Workforce Investments ($141,000,000) ($141,629,000) ($35,000,000) *Quality Improvement Funds **($294,000,000) **($292,000,000) ($292,000,000) Early Head Start Expansion and Child Care Partnerships $635,000,000 $645,000,000

16 Budget & AppropriationsLooking Ahead to FY 2017 Key Takeaways: The FY 2017 topline number is about = top FY 2016 topline making a significant increase tough if not impossible Both House and Senate Committees both approved increases for HS all for COLA – $140 and $35 million respectively With the elections around the corner, NHSA expects a Continuing Resolution until December Advocacy efforts set to slowly build from now through December (A-TEAM TIME!) Appropriators are waiting to see what’s in the Standards too… NHSA expects that: Any significant amount of additional funding will be directed toward increasing duration of service, with COLA as the second priority.

17 Historic Partnership with the NAACP1. Expanding Civic Engagement Opportunities Provide voter registration opportunities for Head Start families and the community Head Start program provides space, NAACP provides volunteers to register voters Head Start families increasingly have the ability to make their voices heard through our democratic process! To participate contact: More information can be found on our partnership page here. Health Care & Fair Housing Resources Currently the NAACP is developing tools families can use to ensure fair housing & stability in the home. Information on healthcare and insurance enrollment is coming soon.

18 Historic Partnership with the NAACPAre programs allowed to participate in hosting voter registration efforts? YES! "The NAACP has a long, successful history of working to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of vulnerable citizens. Head Start has a long, successful history of addressing the educational, health, and nutritional needs of children and their families. I applaud NHSA for bringing the two together to benefit our nation's most vulnerable children and families.” -- Dr. Blanca Enriquez, Director of the Office of Head Start

19 What is reauthorization?the process by which Congress/the Administration prescribes changes, additions, and deletions to the Head Start Act. Through this process, legislation is developed that adjusts the current program to meet changing needs and the latest research. Last reauthorization was in 2007 Supposed to happen every 5 years… **This slide is meant for discussion purposes only. Its contents are not intended to be viewed as NHSA’s position on reauthorization or the future of Head Start.

20 When’s the next reauthorization?Definitely NOT in 2016 2017 and early 2018 are strong possibilities Now is the time to be proactive and solution- oriented Politics may dictate another path **This slide is meant for discussion purposes only. Its contents are not intended to be viewed as NHSA’s position on reauthorization or the future of Head Start.

21 Reauthorization What’s at stake? Block granting and significantly altering the Head Start model will be on the table. However, we can also strengthen the essential elements of Head Start: Locally Designed, Community Driven Federal to Local funding Parent/Family Engagement Comprehensive Services Standards of high quality Developmentally, Linguistically, and Culturally Appropriate Curriculum Birth to Five Model Focus on the Most Vulnerable Children First System of Shared Governance Culture of Understanding and Respect Changes to Head Start can be both positive and negative – that’s why knowing what we want is so important. **This slide is meant for discussion purposes only. Its contents are not intended to be viewed as NHSA’s position on reauthorization or the future of Head Start.

22 Overarching PrinciplesReauthorization Overarching Principles All conversations should include all voices of Head Start (specifically parents, rural, Migrant/Seasonal, and American Indian/Alaskan Native representation) It is necessary and imperative that we all work to create one unified voice Difficult conversations will occur – but should be had internally before going to Hill, Administration, or other external stakeholders We must build and maintain bi-partisan support Gathering and experimenting with innovative ideas to remain true to our roots. Yasmina **This slide is meant for discussion purposes only. Its contents are not intended to be viewed as NHSA’s position on reauthorization or the future of Head Start.

23 Reauthorization What’s next? Fall 2016 Finalize initial draft of re-configured HS act and share with the field and the Hill Create document outlining regulatory changes that will be shared with new Administration’s transition team Understand and identify the impact of the new Head Start Performance Standards on programs **This slide is meant for discussion purposes only. Its contents are not intended to be viewed as NHSA’s position on reauthorization or the future of Head Start.

24 Next Steps: Advocacy Keep relationships fresh and strongCreate a network of parents, staff, and community members, and treat your Members of Congress like your Mother! Keep your resources current Celebrate your success…and don’t be bashful about it! The cost of implementation represents a major challenge to successful implementation Join us at Fall Leadership Institute September 26 to 29 in Washington, DC Get the Word Out! Use NHSA’s Social Media Toolkit and participate in our First Day Activity

25 Upcoming Conferences Fall Leadership InstituteSeptember 25 – 29 / Washington DC Parent, Staff, and Leadership Training Conference December 3-8 / San Juan. PR National Training Conference April 6 – 11 / Chicago. IL