(HSPPS) define standards and minimum requirements for all Head Start services. They apply to both Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The standards serve as the foundation for the Head Start program's mission to deliver comprehensive, high-quality individualized services supporting the school readiness of children from families with low income.
The HSPPS were revised in 2016 to strengthen and improve the quality of Head Start programs. The streamlined standards were the first comprehensive revision of the HSPPS since they were originally published in 1975. The HSPPS reflect best practices and the latest research on early childhood development and brain science. They give grant recipients flexibility in achieving positive child and family outcomes and encourage the use of data to track progress and reach goals in all program areas.
On Dec. 12, 2007, President George W. Bush signed the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007
, reauthorizing the Head Start program.
The law had several provisions to strengthen Head Start quality:
A Program Instruction (PI) addresses a specific requirement that Head Start grant recipients and delegate agencies must implement in their programs. Check out this list of all PIs
issued by the Office of Head Start since 2010.
An Information Memorandum (IM) is a targeted communication tool from the Office of Head Start which provides policy information to Head Start and Early Head Start grant recipients and delegate agencies. Check out this list of all IMs
issued by the Office of Head Start since 2010.