Head Start the Policy Council—Tips for Parents and Families: What Is the Policy Council?
Why Do Head Start and Early Head Start Programs Have a Policy Council? When Head Start began in 1965, its founders understood that parents are essential partners in educating young children. They felt that parents should help decide how Head Start services can most beneft their family and other families in the community. Head Start created the Policy Council as a formal leadership and policy-making role for parents. Today, every Head Start and Early Head Start program must have a Policy Council as part of its leadership structure. Through the Policy Council, parents have a voice in decisions about how the program spends money, what children do in their classrooms, and how the program works with community partners. Children, parents, and the program beneft when parents take on leadership roles. Children learn more and experience healthier development at school and at home. Parents can become more confdent, gain skills, and connect with other parents and staf. Program staf learn about the strengths, interests, and needs of the children, families, and community they serve.
Want to learn more? Explore the other tip sheets in the Head Start Policy Council—Tips for Parents and Families Series: • Joining the Policy Council
• Serving on the Policy Council • Leaving the Policy Council
For more information about this resource, please contact us: PFCE@ecetta.info | 1-866-763- 6 481
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