1302.17 Suspension and expulsion.
This standard clearly prohibits the expulsion of children from Head Start programs and sets strict limitations on the use of temporary suspension.
ERSEA
Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA) tasks are some of the most important work performed by Head Start programs. ERSEA governs how programs determine eligibility, enroll children, and track attendance. Discover resources to help programs assess the needs of their communities and recruit the children and families most in need. Explore materials and tools to help programs market their services, and develop and implement selection criteria. Also, find resources to identify community partners and better address community needs.
1302.16 Attendance.
To promote regular attendance, programs must have a system to track attendance for each enrolled child. Review this standard for clarity around implementation strategies and managing attendance issues.
1302.15 Enrollment.
Programs must maintain their funded enrollment level and fill any vacancy as soon as possible. Explore this standard for enrollment regulations and expectations.
1302.14 Selection process.
Programs are required to use their community assessment to establish selection criteria that prioritize certain children and families. Review this standard as a guide to build a compliant selection process.
1302.13 Recruitment of children.
Programs must develop and implement a process to locate and recruit eligible children in their services area. Review this standard to learn about specific recruitment areas and how to serve special populations.
1302.11 Determining community strengths, needs, and resources.
Programs must conduct a community assessment of their service area at least once over the five-year grant period. Review this standard for clarity about what should be considered.
1302.10 Purpose.
This subpart contains requirements and procedures for the eligibility determination, recruitment, selection, enrollment and attendance of children. It also explains the policy concerning the charging of fees.
1302 Subpart A—Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance
This subpart includes requirements related to program eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance (ERSEA), as well as standards around suspension, expulsion, and fees.
Head Start Eligibility Verification Form
Programs may use the Head Start Eligibility Verification Form as a component of the eligibility determination record alongside copies of documents or statements deemed necessary to verify eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions Related to the Poverty Guidelines and Poverty
The poverty guidelines, which are issued every year in the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services, are a simplified version of the federal poverty thresholds used for administrative purposes. Grantees often have questions regarding who is eligible for enrollment in Head Start and other social services programs. These frequently asked questions will assist them in understanding how to use the guidelines to assess eligibility and other questions they may have.