Head Start Governance Program Management Parent Committees Policy

Head Start Governance & Program Management Parent Committees & Policy Council

Program Governance & Planning Requirement & Purpose • Head Start promotes and supports parents as their children’s first teacher and provides leadership roles for program planning and decision making that will impact their child • Head Start programs establish committees, comprised of currently enrolled parents, to make decisions regarding their • child’s school experience • curriculum, activities and events • learning opportunities for parents 2

Parent Committee & Policy Council Organization & Structure • Parent Committee – site based, local level • Policy Council – agency based, program wide • Bylaws outline the rules for the program and provide comprehensive guidelines to keep things running smoothly which include: • Membership • Voting Rights (no proxy voting) • Meetings (requirements and minimum) • Officers/Governance structure • Roles & Responsibilities of Officers • Conflict of Interests • Terms and vacancies 3

Parent Committee Purpose of the Committee • The parent committee is organized, lead, and run by parents with assistance from program staff. All parents of currently enrolled children are automatically members • Parents work with other parents and school staff to develop and implement activities that support the interests and needs of students and families at their site • Provides a process for communicating with Policy Council and the School Board 4

Parent Meetings & Workshops Parent Interest, Information, Education & Activities • Information from parent surveys helps programs plan parent workshops, trainings, and activities • Parents choose topics, dates and frequency of meetings • We offer opportunities for parents to participate in parent workshops to learn new skills and support social-emotional learning in the home that focuses on a skill we are learning at school • Through the Backpack Buddies home activities, your child will be able to model for you the skills they are learning at school and report back to their fellow classmates where they utilized the skill and how their family will practice and use this skill at home 5

Parent Committee Meetings & Officers • The Parent Committee must meet a minimum of six (6) times each program year • Parents elect the officers of the Parent Committee. Two (2) members will have dual roles and also serve as the representative for their site at Policy Council • Chairperson / Policy Council Representative • Co-Chairperson / Policy Council Alternate • Secretary 6

Parent Committee Chairperson / Policy Council Representative Roles & Responsibilities The Chairperson: • Organizes and leads the Parent Committee Meetings • Communicates with parents and appropriate staff • Encourages and motivates parents to get involved • Serves as a link to Policy Council and shares information between them 7

Parent Committee Co-Chairperson / Policy Council Alternate Roles & Responsibilities The Co-Chairperson • Substitutes for the Chairperson in his/her absence • Assists the Chairperson as needed • Becomes the Chairperson in the event of resignation, etc… • Is responsible for ensuring all attendees sign-in and complete in-kind volunteer form 8

Secretary Roles & Responsibilities The Secretary • Records the meeting minutes • Reminds parents about meetings and/or activities • Helps organize meeting • Assists with room set-up, etc… 9

Meeting Minutes Documentation • Necessary for program monitoring and reporting • Program Audit • All parents sign-in and complete in-kind form • Secretary records minutes • Completed in any language 10

Policy Council Purpose of the Committee • The Policy Council is the governing body and is made up of community members and representatives from each site, and is responsible for the direction of the program (majority or 51% parents) • Agency staff or their immediate family cannot hold office (conflict of interest) • Responsible for program planning and improvement • Approves decisions about grant application, selection criteria, curriculum, hiring, activities, purchases, program sites • Receives information and monthly reports about the program • Participates in program monitoring & self assessment • School readiness goals and outcomes 11

Policy Council Organization & Structure • The Policy Council must meet a minimum of seven (7) times each program year • Parliamentary method/ Robert’s Rules of Order is used • Quorum of 5 members or Executive Committee is required for decision making • Members elect the officers of the Policy Council Officers • Chairperson • Co-Chairperson • Secretary 12

Policy Council When, where and how to participate • During COVID, meetings will be conducted virtually until such measures are lifted • You will be invited via email notification and a participation link will be provided • Parent participation will be documented via completion of survey and participant report 13

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