Workbook final

for fiscal year 2009 and thereafter, not less than 10 percent of the total number of children actually enrolled

by each Head Start (or delegate) agency will be children with disabilities;

there are effective procedures for the provision of early intervening services, such as educational and

behavioral services and supports, meeting the needs of children with disabilities;

Head Start agencies provide effective procedures for timely referral to and collaborate with the State or

local agency providing services.

Ensures that the monitoring of local agencies includes a review and assessment of whether agencies have

adequately addressed the needs of children with disabilities, including whether the agencies involved have met

the 10 percent minimum enrollment requirement and whether the agencies have made sufficient efforts to

collaborate with State and local agencies providing services.

Demands coordination of services provided by programmes of the State, the community, etc.

Applying to all Head Start grantees and delegate agencies, the Head Start Performance Standards (in particular the Head

Start Performance Standards on Services for Children with Disabilities 45 CFR 1308) set forth the requirements for

providing special services for 3- through 5-year-old children with disabilities enrolled in Head Start programmes. The

regulations specify the:

Purpose, scope and definitions;

Purpose and scope of disabilities service plan: Each grantee is required to develop a disabilities service plan,

which provides a description of the strategies the programme will use to meet the collective needs of the

children with disabilities served;

Social Services Performance Standards for the recruitment and enrollment of children with disabilities: Each

grantee is required to actively recruit children with disabilities and it is prohibited to deny a child’s placement in

a programme due to the child’s disability;

Health Services Performance Standards for the assessment of disability, including eligibility criteria for a number

of specific types of disabilities: Head Start programmes are required to complete health and developmental

screenings for all children enrolled and are required to refer any child who is suspected of having a disability for

a more complete assessment;

Education Services Performance Standards for the development of individualized education programs (IEPs): An

IEP must be created for every child with a disability that specifies the services and programming that are

appropriate and that will be provided by the head start programme, in collaboration with the special education

service providers;

Nutrition Performance Standards for nutrition services;

Parent Involvement Performance Standards for parent participation and transition of children into Head Start

and from Head Start to public school; as well as

Additional guidance on each item.,