What Is Included in a Community Assessment?
Review what should be included in a community assessment.
Program Planning
Thoughtful planning is critical to programming. Explore these resources for guidance throughout the five-year Head Start grant cycle. Learn how to establish continuous cycles of improvement that involve key stakeholders in data-based decision-making. Find resources to help build on achievable program and school readiness goals and fiscal objectives. Discover materials that guide grantees in creating community and self-assessments, and achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
Program planning and service system design together make up one of the 12 management, planning, and oversight systems of the Management Systems Wheel.
Home Visitor’s Online Handbook
Explore this handbook to find research on home-based programs, strategies for best practices, video examples, and resources, along with wisdom from home visitors across the country.
Standards in Action
Explore these vignettes to learn how programs can implement specific Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS).
Serving Families with Multiple Children in the Home-Based Option
In this tip sheet, find strategies for providing services to children and families, including families with more than one enrolled child.
Head Start Tip Sheets for Grantee Planning
Use these tip sheets to find ways to support grantee planning. Explore what to consider when implementing systems, policies, and practices around topics from developmental screening to home-based programs and more.
Foundations for Excellence
Review a range of planning topics to support programs’ successful completion of the Head Start grant application, and to ensure programming is responsive to community needs throughout the five-year grant period.
Use Data and Evaluation to Inform Decision-Making
Learn how using data and evaluation enables programs to make data-informed decisions. Also, find out how data and evaluation informs each stage of the program planning cycle.
Support Ongoing Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
Ongoing monitoring helps Head Start programs better address goals and objectives. It also engages all stakeholders in the program planning process.
Make the Most of Program Planning and Service System Design
Learn how program planning and service system design guides Head Start programs through their five-year grant. This system design includes service plans that directly impact children and families.
Plan and Grow with an Annual Self-Assessment
A self-assessment each year helps Head Start programs plan and grow around their strengths and needs.