Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL › Chapter 5 - HEAD START PROGRAM RULES › Section 144-5-1.5 - Program Performance Standards for Operation of Head Start Programs by Grantee and Delegate Agencies

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. General
1. Purpose and Application
This part sets out the goals of the Head Start program as
				  they may be achieved by the combined attainment of the objectives of the basic
				  components of the program, with emphasis on the program performance standards
				  necessary and required to attain those objectives. With the required
				  development of plans covering the implementation of the performance standards,
				  grantees and delegate agencies will have firm bases for operations most likely
				  to lead to demonstrable benefits to children and their families. While
				  compliance with the performance standards is required as a condition of State
				  Head Start funding, it Is expected that the standards will be largely
				  self-enforcing. This part applies to all Head Start grantees and delegate
				  agencies.
2. Head Start
				Program Goals
a The Head Start Program is
				based on the premise that all children share certain needs, and that children
				of low Income families, In particular, can benefit from a comprehensive
				developmental program to meet those needs. The Head Start program approach Is
				based on the philosophy that:
(1) A child can
				benefit most from a comprehensive, interdisciplinary program to foster
				development and remedy problems as expressed In a broad range of services, and
				that
(2) The child's entire family,
				as well as the community must be Involved. The program should maximize the
				strengths and unique experiences of each child. The family, which Is perceived
				as the principal influence on the child's development, must be a direct
				participant in the program. Local communities are allowed latitude in
				developing creative program designs so long as the basic goals, objectives and
				standards, of a comprehensive program are adhered to.
b The overall goal of the Head Start program
				is to bring about a greater degree of social competence in children of low
				income families. By social competence is meant the child's everyday
				effectiveness in dealing with both present environment and later
				responsibilities in school and life. Social competence takes into account the
				interrelatedness of cognitive and mental health, nutritional needs, and other
				factors that enable a child to function optimally. The Head Start program is a
				comprehensive developmental approach to helping children achieve social
				competence. To the accomplishment of this goal, Head Start objectives and
				performance standards provide for:
(1) The
				improvement of the child's health and physical abilities, including appropriate
				steps to correct present physical and mental problems and to enhance every
				child's access to an adequate diet. The improvement of the family's attitude
				toward future health care and physical abilities.
(2) The encouragement of self-confidence,
				spontaneity, curiosity, and self-discipline which will assist In the
				development of the child's social and emotional health.
(3) The enhancement of the child's mental
				processes and skills with particular attention to conceptual and communications
				skills.
(4) The establishment of
				patterns and expectations of success for the child, which create a climate of
				confidence for present and future learning efforts and overall
				development.
(5) An Increase in the
				ability of the child and the family to relate to each other and to
				others.
(6) The enhancement of the
				sense of dignity and selfworth within the child and his family
3. Performance
				Standards Plan Development
Each grantee and delegate agency shall develop a plan for
				  implementing the performance standards prescribed In these rules for use In the
				  operation of its Head Start program (hereinafter called "plan" or "performance
				  standards plan"). The plan shall provide that the Head Start program covered
				  thereby shall meet or exceed the performance standards. The plan shall be In
				  writing and shall be developed by the appropriate professional Head Start staff
				  of the grantee or delegate agency with cooperation from other Head Start staff,
				  with technical assistance and advice as needed from personnel of the DCS and
				  professional consultants, and with the advice and concurrence of the policy
				  council or policy committee. The plan must be reviewed by grantee or delegate
				  agency staff and the policy council or policy committee at least annually and
				  revised and updated as may be necessary.
4. Performance Standards Implementation and
				Enforcement
a Grantees and delegate agencies
				must be In compliance with or exceed the performance standards prescribed in
				these rules at the commencement of the grantee's program year, and thereafter,
				unless the period for full compliance Is extended in accordance with paragraph
				(f) of this section.
b If the DCS
				as a result of Information obtained from program self-evaluation, pre-review,
				or routine monitoring, is aware or has reason to believe that a Head Start
				program, with respect to performance standards other than those for which the
				time for compliance has been extended in accordance with paragraph (f) of this
				section, is not in compliance with performance standards, the Division shall
				notify the grantee promptly in writing of the deficiencies and inform the
				grantee that It, or if the deficiencies are in a Head Start program operated by
				a delegate agency, the delegate agency has a period stated In the notice not to
				exceed 20 calendar days to come Into compliance. If the notice is with respect
				to a delegate agency, the grantee shall immediately notify the delegate agency
				and inform it of the time within which the deficiencies must be corrected. Upon
				receiving the notice the grantee or delegate agency shall Immediately analyze
				its operations to determine how it might best comply with the performance
				standards. In this process it shall review, among other things, its utilization
				of all available local resources, and whether It is receiving the benefits of
				State and Federal programs for which it is eligible and which are available. It
				shall review and realign where feasible program priorities, operations, and
				financial and manpower allocations. It shall also consider the possibility of
				choosing an alternate program option for the delivery of Head Start Services In
				accordance with OCD Notice N-30-334-1. Program Options for Project Head Start,
				attached hereto as Appendix A, which the grantee, with DCS concurrence,
				determines that it would be able to operate as a quality program In compliance
				with performance standards.
c The
				grantee or delegate agency shall report in writing In detail its efforts to
				meet the performance standards within the time given in the notice to the DCS.
				A delegate agency shall report through the grantee. If the reporting agency,
				grantee or delegate agency, determines that it is unable to comply with the
				performance standards, the DCS shall be notified promptly In writing by the
				grantee, which notice shall contain a description of the deficiencies not able
				to be corrected and the reasons therefor. If Insufficient funding is included
				as a principal reason for inability to comply with performance standards, the
				notice shall specify the exact amount, and basis for, the funding deficit and
				efforts made to obtain funding from other sources.
d The DCS will undertake to assist grantees,
				and delegate agencies through their grantees, to comply with the performance
				standards, including by furnishing or by recommending technical
				assistance.
e If the grantee or
				delegate agency has not complied with the performance standards, other than
				those for which the time for compliance has been extended in accordance with
				paragraph (f) of this section, within the period stated in the notice issued
				under paragraph (b) of this section, the grantee shall be notified promptly by
				the DCS of the commencement of suspension or termination proceedings or of the
				Intention to deny refunding, as may be appropriate.
f The time within which a grantee or delegate
				agency shall be required to correct deficiencies in implementation of the
				performance standards may be extended by the DCS to a maximum of one year, only
				with respect to the following deficiencies:
(1) The space per child provided by the Head
				Start program does not comply with the Education Services performance standard
				but there Is no risk to the health or safety of the children;
(2) The Head Start program is unable to
				provide Medical or Dental Treatment Services as required by Health Services
				Performance Standards because funding Is insufficient and there are no
				community or other resources available;
(3) The services of a mental health
				professional is not available or accessible to the program as required by the
				Health Services Performance Standards; or
(4) The deficient service Is not able to be
				corrected within the 20 days notice period, notwithstanding full effort at
				compliance, because of lack of funds and outside community resources, but it is
				reasonable to expect that the services will be brought Into compliance within
				the extended period, and the overall high quality of the Head Start program
				otherwise will be maintained during the extension.