HS/EHS Full Enrollment Initiative

HS/EHS START FULL ENROLLMENT INITIATIVE

The Office of Head Start has the authority to designate an agency as “Chronically Underenrolled.” If your agency receives this designation, your funding could be at risk.

Did your agency receive an Underenrollment Letter from the Office of Head Start (OHS) in the last year? Do you anticipate receiving one this year? The 12-month period for determining chronic underenrollment starts 10 calendar days from the date the Underenrollment Letter is sent.

Beginning in February 2024, as the 12-month period comes to an end for many programs, OHS is expected to make further decisions regarding chronic underenrollment.

If you are currently participating in the Full Enrollment Initiative (FEI) or want to ensure you are ready to respond, if notified, Foundations for Families can help you think strategically. There are multiple ways to address the challenges ahead – don’t wait until the last minute to plan your pathway to full enrollment.

– How are you monitoring enrollment to verify you are meeting the Head Start requirements?

– What steps have you taken to address recruitment?

– What steps have you taken to fully staff and open classrooms?

– Have you considered submitting a Change in Scope Request?

– How are you documenting your progress, in the event that your program is designated as Chronically Underenrolled?

If you need one-on-one assistance, Foundations for Families can work with your team to complete the required 12-Month Action Plan and develop a strategy and timetable for reducing or eliminating underenrollment and mitigating the risk of losing funding. Additional support may include evaluating staffing challenges and ERSEA policies and procedures, updating data sources needed for decision-making (e.g., Community Assessment; Wage Comparability Study), assessing your overall program design, and assisting with the development of a Change in Scope Request.