Title
Request Approval of the Head Start Birth to Five 2025-26 ERSEA Plan Updates - Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 & 8
Description
Request the Community Services and Education Subcommittee, which serves as the City of Phoenix Head Start Birth to Five Governing Board, to approve revisions to the Head Start Birth to Five Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA) Plan.
THIS ITEM IS FOR CONSENT ACTION.
Report
Summary
The Head Start Birth to Five program is required to develop and implement a written plan defining the program's practices and procedures for children's eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance. As the Governing Board for the Head Start Birth to Five program, the Community Services and Education Subcommittee is requested to review and approve the revised ERSEA Plan (Attachment A).
The Office of Head Start requires ERSEA Plans to include specific details for determining eligibility, how eligible children are recruited, establishing a viable wait list, selecting children most in need, how children will be enrolled, and tracking children's attendance. These requirements ensure that the selection of enrollees is made fairly and systematically. The selection criteria ensures that children most in need are selected first. The ERSEA Plan includes the Head Start Birth to Five program's process for alignment with other federal programs, such as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Every year, the Head Start Birth to Five staff and the Head Start Birth to Five Policy Council review and update the ERSEA Plan to address program and community needs, as well as comply with Head Start regulations.
Key changes is:
- Appendix B, pages 17 through 20, in which the Attendance Procedure has been added to the plan.
Minor changes include:
- On page 9, the program is adding the statement beginning with "Federal and State documents" to the list of approved address verification documents.
- On page 10, the program is adding the word "annually" to how often the selection criteria is updated in ChildPlus.
- On page 13, the program is changing the number of consecutive absences from three to two.
All updates are highlighted in yellow. Please refer to Attachment A.
Contract Term
This is the second year of a five-year contract. The contract term is from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2029. This request does not change the term of the contract.
Financial Impact
The grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children, Youth and Families. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The item was approved by the Head Start Birth to Five Policy Council on January 12, 2026.
Locations
Alhambra Elementary School District, 4510 N. 37th Avenue
Cartwright Elementary School District, 5220 W. Indian School Road
Deer Valley Unified School District, 20402 N. 15th Avenue
Fowler Elementary School District, 1617 S. 67th Avenue
Isaac School District, 3348 W. McDowell Road
Laveen Elementary School District, 5601 W. Dobbins Road
Murphy Elementary School District, 3140 W. Buckeye Road
Pendergast Elementary School District, 3802 N. 91st Avenue
Phoenix Elementary School District, 1817 N. 7th Street
Riverside Elementary School District, 1414 S. 51st Avenue
Roosevelt Elementary School District, 6000 S. 7th Street
Skyrise School of Black Canyon, 10653 N. 25th Avenue
Skyrise School of Laveen, 755 S. 51st Avenue
Washington Elementary School District, 4650 W. Sweetwater Avenue
Wilson Elementary School District, 3025 E. Fillmore Street
Council Districts: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Human Services Department.