The District believes in the Head Start program. It has been a beneficial program for our military and civilian families. This grant funded program is not a continuous grant it is a competitive grant on a 5 year cycle. The Geary County Head Start will have reached the end of its 5 year cycle on June 30, 2014
USD 475 has been working over the past several months with the Head Start Regional Office to put in place the requirements need to operate the program for the next 5 year funding cycle. Since its reauthorization in 2007 the requirements to operate the program have changed. In 2007 several provisions to strengthen the quality of Head Start were put in place. These include alignment of Head Start school readiness goals with state early learning standards, higher qualifications for the Head Start teaching workforce, State Advisory Councils on Early Care and Education in every state, and increased program monitoring, including a review of child outcomes and annual financial audits. The Head Start training and technical assistance system was redesigned to support programs through six National Centers and a state-based system to ensure success.
The statute also included a provision that regulations be publicized to move programs from an indefinite project period to a five-year grant cycle. Programs would be required to demonstrate they are of high quality or a competitive grant opportunity would be made available within the community.
If the GCHS program is approved for the next cycle of funding all employee’s will have to re-apply because the criteria for employment will change to meet the new requirements. With the funding unknown at this time the employees were notified by letter that their current positions would end no later than June 30th. They are welcome to apply for other positions within USD 475. If the grant is funded those employee’s would need to apply for the positions as defined by the new Head Start criteria on the USD 475 website.
USD 475 is disappointed that we do not know the future of the program at this time, but it is our hope that the program will continue even better than it was so that the students and family of Geary County have a great place to help their kids off to a great start in life.