Title
Approval of the 2020-2021 Head Start Birth to Five ERSEA Plan
Description
This report requests the Land Use and Livability Subcommittee, which serves as the Head Start Birth to Five Governing Board, approve the 2020-2021 Head Start Birth to Five Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA) Plan.
THIS ITEM IS FOR CONSENT ACTION.
Report
Summary
Each year, the Head Start Birth to Five program is required to develop and implement a written plan defining the program's policies and procedures for the eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance of children. As the Governing Board for the City of Phoenix Head Start Birth to Five program, the Land Use and Livability Subcommittee is required to approve the annual ERSEA Plan (Attachment A).
As required by the Office of Head Start, the ERSEA Plan must include:
- Specifics for determining eligibility.
- Recruitment of eligible children and the establishment of wait lists.
- Selection of children in order to serve those most in need.
- Enrollment process.
- Attendance policies.
These requirements are designed to ensure the selection of enrollees is made fairly, systematically, and by using the selection criteria ensure the children most in need are served. The City of Phoenix Head Start Birth to Five ERSEA Plan is also necessary to ensure the connection to other federally funded programs including the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
In Attachment A, the changes or additions to the ERSEA Plan are highlighted in yellow. Specifically, the term "delegate" was changed to "education service provider" and under the Income Verification Policy a bullet point was added that income is verified when "a child will attend a preschool classroom for a third year." Under Intake Procedures, documents no longer in use were removed and under Selection Process, the section stating "delegate agencies requiring their governing board approval of their selection criteria" was removed as the Head Start Birth to Five program has moved to a universal selection criteria.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was approved by the Head Start Birth to Five Policy Council on Feb. 10, 2020.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Deanna Jonovich and the Human Services Department.