IOWA HEAD START STATE
COLLABORATION OFFICE
Iowa Department of Education
IOWA HEAD START STATE COLLABORATION
OFFICE (HSSCO)
United State Government (Executive Branch)
US Dept. of Health
and Human Services
Office of Head Start
ACF Region VII
State of Iowa: Office of the Governor
Iowa Dept. of Education
HSSCO: Purpose
Head Start State Collaboration Offices exist “to facilitate
collaboration among Head Start agencies (including Early Head
Start agencies) and entities that carry out activities designed to
benefit low income children from birth to school entry, and their
families.“ -- HS Act §642B(a)(2)(A)
HSSCO: Purpose (continued)
HSSCOs provide a structure and a process for the Office of Head
Start (OHS) to work with state and local entities to leverage their
common interests around young children and their families.
Working together, they formulate, implement, and improve state
and local policies and practices. To be effective, the HSSCO director
must hold a full-time position of sufficient authority and access to
ensure collaboration "is effective and involves a range of state
agencies.” -- HS Act §642B(a)(3)(B)
HSSCO: Scope of work
School Transitions
Professional Development
Child Care and Early Childhood
Systems
Regional Office Priorities
HSSCO Scope of work:
SCHOOL TRANSITIONS
Foster seamless transitions and long-term
success of Head Start children by promoting
continuity of services between the Head Start
Child Development and Learning Framework
and State early learning standards including
pre-k entry assessment and interoperable
data systems.
HSSCO Scope of work:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Collaborate with institutions of higher
education to promote professional
development through education and
credentialing programs for early childhood
providers in states.
HSSCO Scope of work:
CHILD CARE & EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEMS
Coordinate activities with the agency responsible for the State
Child Care and Development Block Grant, as well as resource
and referral services, to make full-working-day and full-calendar --year services available to children. Include the Head
Start Program Performance Standards in state efforts to rate
the quality of programs using the (Quality Rating and
Improvement System, (QRIS). Support Head Start program
participation in QRIS and partnering with child care and early
childhood systems at the local level.
HSSCO Scope of work:
REGIONAL OFFICE PRIORITIES
Support other Regional Office priorities such as family and
community partnerships; health, mental health, and oral
health; disabilities; and support to military families. Other
special OHS and ACF initiative requests for HSSCO support
should be routed through the OHS Regional Offices.
Iowa HSSCO 5 Year Work Plan
Ten Goals
School Transitions:
1. Promote and facilitate the development and maintenance of successful
Head Start/State PreK collaboration at a state and local level, including
alignment of curriculum and assessment with Iowa’s Early Learning
Standards and assuring accessibility of preschool age children to Head
Start and other preschool programs that promote kindergarten
readiness. [(4)(B)(iii) and (4)(C)]
2. Promote and facilitate the development of agreements and procedures
that assure sharing and integration of Head Start data with state data
systems and data collection. (Scope of Work: “promoting continuity of
services...including interoperable data systems.”)
Iowa HSSCO 5 Year Work Plan
Ten Goals
Professional Development
3. Support statewide efforts to implement fully an early childhood
professional development system (ECPD) that will provide for
professionals working in Head Start and other early education
programs in Iowa well-articulated pathways along a continuum of
increased competence (certificates, credit, degrees), responsibility
(career advancement) and compensation (salary and wage
adjustments). [(4)(B)(iv)]
Iowa HSSCO 5 Year Work Plan
Ten Goals
Child Care and Early Childhood Systems
4.
Increase the number of programs providing and children using full-day, fullyear services through collaboration with DHS and CCRR. [(4)(B)(ii)]
5.
Promote and expand participation in Iowa’s QRS by Head Start programs,
child care providers serving Head Start families and child care providers
caring for children served through CCA. [Scope of Work: “Include Head
Start Program Performance Standards in…QRIS and support Head Start
programs in participating in QRIS.”]
6.
Support the work of Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) as the governor-designated
Early Childhood Advisory Council including promoting partnership with
local ECI areas [Sec. 642B(b)(1)(A)(4)(H)]
Iowa HSSCO 5 Year Work Plan
Ten Goals
REGIONAL OFFICE PRIORITIES
7.
Through collaboration activities at a state and local level, expand access to services and
improve outcomes for Head Start children and other low income children in the
following targeted health areas: oral health, obesity, medical/health home, socialemotional-behavioral health, mental health, and asthma [(4)(B)(i), (iv) & (4)(E)] as well
as Iowa-based family supports.
8.
Promote stronger and more seamless collaborative partnerships among Head Start,
AEAs and LEAs (and other service providers) based the effective implementation of the
soon-to-be developed statewide agreement on services to children with disabilities
[(4)(B)(i)]
9.
Through collaboration activities at a state and local level, expand access to services for
Head Start children and other low income children of military families.
10. Conduct a needs assessment of Iowa Head Start agencies in the State with respect to
collaboration, coordination and alignment of services [Sec. 642B(b)(4)(A)]
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
School Transitions
Goal One
Objectives
Promote and facilitate the
development and maintenance of
successful Head Start/State PreK
collaboration at a state and local level,
including alignment of curriculum and
assessment with Iowa’s Early Learning
Standards and assuring accessibility of
preschool age children to Head Start
and other preschool programs that
promote kindergarten readiness.
1. Encourage the development of new
LEA/HS partnerships that lead to
formal agreements
2. Support efforts to revise Iowa Early
Learning Standards.
3. Expand high quality transition
practices to all Head Start programs
and for all children in preschool,
especially those of low income
and/or enrolled in Head Start.
DIFFICULTY IN COLLABORATING WITH
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Difficulty Score (High easy, Low difficult)
3=not at all difficult
3.00
2.50
2.11
2=somewhat
difficult
2.25
2.00
1.50
1=difficult
1.00
0.50
0=extremely
difficult
0.00
Average Score 2009
Average Score 2012
Average Score
2012
F. Helping parents of "dual language learners" to understand
instructional and other information and services provided by the
receiving school
1.82
2.11
Average Score
2009
E. Aligning Head Start curricular objectives and assessments,
based on the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and/or the
Iowa Early Learning Standards, with the LEAs kindergarten and
early elementary curricular objectives and assessments
D. Organizing and participating in joint training with school staff
and Head Start staff on topics such as academic content standards,
instructional methods, curricula, and social and emotional
development
2.53
2.12
1.75
2.05
2.41
C. Establishing and implementing comprehensive transition
policies and procedures with LEAs
2.11
2.35
2.17
B. Ongoing communication with LEAs to facilitate coordination of
programs (including with teachers, administrators, etc.)
2.65
A. Coordinating with LEAs to implement systematic procedures
for transferring Head Start program records to the school district
2.24
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
MOU WITH LEA STATUS: 2009-2012
50%
42%
40%
20%
32%
31%
34%
2011 (326)
2012 (136)
27%
25%
20%
2010 (148)
43%
35%
30%
2009 (123)
23%
21%
17%
17%
12%
9%
10%
6%
5%
1%
0%
0%
Comprehensive MOU MOU not comp.
In Development
No MOU
no response
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
School Transitions
Objectives
1. Encourage the development of
new LEA/HS partnerships that
lead to formal agreements
2. Support efforts to revise Iowa
Early Learning Standards.
3. Expand high quality transition
practices to all Head Start
programs and for all children in
preschool, especially those of low
income and/or enrolled in Head
Start.
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
School Transitions
Objectives
How difficult is establishing and implementing
1. Encourage the development 100% transition policies and procedures?
2009 (19)
of new LEA/HS partnerships
that lead to formal
agreements
2.
3.
Support efforts to revise
Iowa Early Learning
Standards.
Expand high quality
transition practices to all
Head Start programs and for
all children in preschool,
especially those of low
income and/or enrolled in
Head Start.
2010 (148)
75%
61%
2011 (326)
47%
50%
42%
2012 (136)
39%
47%
32% 43%
26%
21%
25%
16%
9%
0%
Not at All
Difficult
Somewhat
Difficult
6%
2%
1%
Difficult
0%
0%0%
2%
Extremely
Difficult
5%
0%
Not Doing
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
School Transitions
Objectives
1.
Support the development of an interoperable data
system for early childhood through the ECAC data
grant and future activities with an eye to
incorporating Head Start data.
2.
Study models of other states that have integrated
Head Start data.
3.
Assure Head Start is included in the development
and the system addresses Head Start concerns
(who can see data; how will the data be used)
4.
Develop model data sharing agreements and
duplicate across grantees.
Work Done
• GOLD Systems Work
• RTT-ELC
• Data Sharing MOU
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Professional Development
Goal Three
Support statewide efforts to
implement fully an early
childhood professional
development system that will
provide for professionals
working in Head Start and
other early education
programs in Iowa wellarticulated pathways along a
continuum of increased
competence, responsibility
and compensation
Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Adopt state-based competencies for all roles within Head
Start and Child Care.
Ensure well articulated pathways exist for key roles
within early childhood in all four ovals (early learning,
family support, health, mental health & nutrition, special
needs/early intervention)
Promote quality improvement in higher education
programs delivering early childhood coursework
Support T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Iowa as a key
strategy for expanding professional development
opportunities for early childhood professionals,
especially Head Start staff
Promote availability and use of distance learning
opportunities for Head Start staff and other early
childhood professionals.
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Professional Development
Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Adopt state-based
competencies for all roles
Ensure well articulated
pathways exist for key roles
Promote quality improvement
in higher education programs
delivering early childhood
coursework
Support T.E.A.C.H. Early
Childhood Iowa
Promote availability and use of
distance learning
opportunities
Work Done: Comptencies for Roles
teacher
Teacher/Asst
Teacher
Competencies
assistant teacher
I/T teacher
I/T assistant teacher
home-based visitor, family support
home-based visitor supervisors
site manager
director
Family
Support
Credentials
Program
Administrator Competencies
 content specialist (education, disabilities, training,
health, nutrition, coach/consultant)
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Professional Development
Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Adopt state-based
competencies for all roles
Ensure well articulated
pathways exist for key roles
Promote quality improvement
in higher education programs
delivering early childhood
coursework
Support T.E.A.C.H. Early
Childhood Iowa
Promote availability and use of
distance learning
opportunities
Pathways
Teachers/Asst Teachers
Program Administrators
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Professional Development
Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Adopt state-based
competencies for all roles
Ensure well articulated
pathways exist for key roles
Promote quality improvement
in higher education programs
delivering early childhood
coursework
Support T.E.A.C.H. Early
Childhood Iowa
Promote availability and use of
distance learning
opportunities
Increasing degrees from Head Start
Teachers and Assistant Teachers
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Child Care & Early Childhood Systems
Goal Four
Objectives
Increase the number of
programs providing and
children using full-day, fullyear services through
collaboration with DHS and
CCRR.
1.
2.
Promote and expand use of wrap-around child
care funding by Head Start grantees
Promote and expand use of Child Care
Assistance by eligible Head Start families and
other families of low income
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Child Care & Early Childhood Systems
Objectives
1.
2.
Promote and expand use of wraparound child care funding by Head Start
grantees
Promote and expand use of Child Care
Assistance by eligible Head Start
families and other families of low
income
Wrap Around Grant
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
$8,000,000
$7,000,000
$6,000,000
$5,000,000
$4,000,000
$3,000,000
16 16 15 13 12 12 10
$2,000,000
11 9
$1,000,000
$0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Number of Grants
Grantees
Total Dollars
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Child Care & Early Childhood Systems
Objectives
1.
2.
Promote and expand use of wraparound child care funding by Head Start
grantees
Promote and expand use of Child Care
Assistance by eligible Head Start
families and other families of low
income
Survey (2012) of Head Start Parents
Child Care Assistance is very important to
me.
140
120
118
100
80
60
34
40
37
20
4
0
0
STRONGLY AGREE
AGREE
NEITHER
AGREE/DISAGREE
DISAGREE
STRONGLY
DISAGREE
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Child Care & Early Childhood Systems
Objectives
1.
2.
Promote and expand use of wraparound child care funding by Head Start
grantees
Promote and expand use of Child Care
Assistance by eligible Head Start
families and other families of low
income
Survey (2012) of Head Start Parents
60
50
It is NOT hard to find quality child care.
47
47
52
40
28
30
20
15
10
0
STRONGLY AGREE
AGREE
NEITHER
AGREE/DISAGREE
DISAGREE
STRONGLY
DISAGREE
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Child Care & Early Childhood Systems
Objectives
1.
2.
Promote and expand use of wraparound child care funding by Head Start
grantees
Promote and expand use of Child Care
Assistance by eligible Head Start
families and other families of low
income
Survey (2012) of Head Start Parents
Child Care Assistance is very difficult to get.
80
75
70
60
50
46
40
40
26
30
20
5
10
0
STRONGLY AGREE
AGREE
NEITHER
AGREE/DISAGREE
DISAGREE
STRONGLY DISAGREE
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Child Care & Early Childhood Systems
Objectives
1.
2.
Promote and expand use of wraparound child care funding by Head Start
grantees
Promote and expand use of Child Care
Assistance by eligible Head Start
families and other families of low
income
Survey (2012) of Head Start Parents
90
I am satisfied with the quality of child care
services I receive.
82
80
70
61
60
50
40
26
30
20
7
10
2
0
STRONGLY AGREE
AGREE
NEITHER
AGREE/DISAGREE
DISAGREE
STRONGLY DISAGREE
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Child Care & Early Childhood Systems
Goal Five
Objectives
Promote and expand
participation in Iowa’s QRS
by Head Start programs,
child care providers serving
Head Start families and
child care providers caring
for children served through
CCA.
1.
2.
3.
Monitor and promote increased participation in
Iowa’s Quality Rating System (QRS) by Head
Start programs, child care providers serving
Head Start families and providers caring for
children served through Child Care Assistance
Encourage DHS to recognize current Head Start
standards as a highest level of quality within
QRS.
Seek Head Start participation in QRS Oversight
Committee
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Child Care & Early Childhood Systems
Objectives
1.
2.
3.
Monitor and promote increased participation
in Iowa’s Quality Rating System (QRS) by
Head Start programs, child care providers
serving Head Start families and providers
caring for children served through Child Care
Assistance
Encourage DHS to recognize current Head
Start standards as a highest level of quality
within QRS.
Seek Head Start participation in QRS
Oversight Committee
Iowa HS Classrooms Rated by the
QRS
72 (31%)
80
63
60
40
34
26
20
38
0
2008
2010
2011
2012
2013
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Child Care & Early Childhood Systems
Objectives
1.
2.
3.
Monitor and promote increased participation
in Iowa’s Quality Rating System (QRS) by
Head Start programs, child care providers
serving Head Start families and providers
caring for children served through Child Care
Assistance
Encourage DHS to recognize current Head
Start standards as a highest level of quality
within QRS.
Seek Head Start participation in QRS
Oversight Committee
Head Start in QRS
Percentage at 4 or 5
 2007 = 23% (55 centers)
 2011 = 60% (63 centers)
 2012 = 69% (26 centers)
 2013 = 63% (38 centers)
Number of grantees participating
 2010 = 15
 2011 = 11
 2012 = 10
 2013 = 10
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Child Care & Early Childhood Systems
Objectives
1.
2.
3.
Monitor and promote increased participation
in Iowa’s Quality Rating System (QRS) by
Head Start programs, child care providers
serving Head Start families and providers
caring for children served through Child Care
Assistance
Encourage DHS to recognize current Head
Start standards as a highest level of quality
within QRS.
Seek Head Start participation in QRS
Oversight Committee
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Child Care & Early Childhood Systems
Goal Six
Objectives
Support the work of Early
Childhood Iowa (ECI) as the
governor-designated Early
Childhood Advisory Council
including promoting
partnership with local ECI
areas
1.
Continue to provide leadership on relevant ECI
component groups
2. Develop an ECI Parent Council
3. Monitor and support local ECI area partnership
with Head Start grantees
4. Support ECAC grant implementation and longterm administrative sustainability
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Child Care & Early Childhood Systems
Objectives
1.
Continue to provide leadership on relevant ECI
component groups
2. Develop an ECI Parent Council
3. Monitor and support local ECI area partnership
with Head Start grantees
4. Support ECAC grant implementation and longterm administrative sustainability
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Regional Office Priorities
Goal Seven
Objectives
Expand access to services
and improve outcomes for
Head Start children and
other low income children in
the following targeted
health areas: oral health,
obesity, medical/health
home, social-emotionalbehavioral health, mental
health, and asthma.
1.
2.
3.
Expand access to oral health services and
improve outcomes in the area of oral health,
including prevention services
Expand access to programs that address
overweight children and improve health
outcomes in the area of obesity
Provide support for establishment of high
quality medical/health homes and coordinate its
efforts with state Head Start programs to ensure
its benefits accrue to Head Start children and
other children of low income
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Regional Office Priorities
Goal Seven (cont’d)
Objectives (cont’d)
Expand access to services
and improve outcomes for
Head Start children and
other low income children in
the following targeted
health areas: oral health,
obesity, medical/health
home, social-emotionalbehavioral health, mental
health, and asthma.
4. Expand access to social-emotional-behavioral
and mental health services with improved
surveillance, early detection, prevention and
intervention efforts (including links to Project
LAUNCH, 1st Five & EC-PBIS)
5. Expand access to services and improve
outcomes in the area of asthma, including
prevention services
6. Promote continued use of early childhood
otoacoustic emission (OAE) hearing screening
based on ECHO work.
7. Promote collaborative partnerships among
family support programs and state-based
systems and Head Start/Early Head Start
programs.
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Regional Office Priorities
Objectives
Activities
Oral Health
I-Smile Collaboration
Obesity
IMIL, Team Nutrition
Medical Home/EPSDT
See report
Mental Health
PBIS, Project LAUNCH, 1st Five
Asthma
Anti-Smoking work
OAE/ECHO
In 11/14 Grantees, EHDI Coordination
Family Support
MIECHV (EHS Model), FSLG
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Regional Office Priorities
Goal Eight
Objectives
Promote stronger and more
seamless collaborative
partnerships among Head
Start, AEAs and LEAs based
the effective
implementation of the
statewide agreement on
services to children with
disabilities
1. Complete draft of statewide MOU on
disabilities and get signatures from
pertinent entities.
2. Develop a comprehensive
implementation plan based on MOU
3. Implement plan
4. Address pull-outs and timely services
issues as they persist even with MOU
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Regional Office Priorities
Objectives
1. Complete draft of statewide MOU
on disabilities and get signatures
from pertinent entities.
2. Develop a comprehensive
implementation plan based on
MOU
3. Implement plan
4. Address pull-outs and timely
services issues as they persist even
with MOU
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Regional Office Priorities
Goal Nine
Objectives
Through collaboration
activities at a state and local
level, expand access to
services for Head Start
children and other low
income children of military
families.
1. Promote and expand IHSA partnership
with the Military Child Education
Coalition
2. Explore work of the Joining Community
Forces
IOWA HSSCO GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Regional Office Priorities
Goal Ten
Objectives
Conduct a needs
assessment of Iowa Head
Start agencies in the State
with respect to
collaboration, coordination
and alignment of services
1. Update the Iowa HSSCO Needs
Assessment for 2014
2. Collect and aggregate data on Iowa
HSSCO plan indicators and measures to
document progress on desired results
and benefits.