News and Resource Links
News:
The 2012 HHS Poverty Guidelines have been released. Find the Poverty Guidlines information at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/12poverty.shtml.
ACF releases 45 CFR Part 1307 regulations on recompetition. Download the PDF here.
FAR Councils raise simplified acquisition threshold. Read here.
The 2012 Monitoring Protocol has been released. Download a PDF version here.
2010 Census Data Available. According to the U.S. Census “information for all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are now available. These tables provide the most detailed counts available so far from the 2010 Census, including cross-tabulations of age, sex, households, families, relationship to householder, housing units, detailed race and Hispanic or Latino origin groups, and group quarters. The statistics are available for a variety of geographic areas, with most tables available down to the block or census tract level.” Read the full article here.
Amy Hood Hooten appointed to serve on Kentucky's new Early Childhood Advisory Council. T/TAS is proud to share that Amy Hood Hooten, T/TAS ECE Specialist, was recently appointed by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear to serve on the newly created Early Childhood Advisory Council.
The council will work to unite stakeholders behind common strategies, standards and goals for Kentucky’s early childhood system and advocate for improved quality of early childhood services and improved school readiness. The first task of the council will be to assist in Kentucky’s application for the Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge. The federal funds will reward states that create comprehensive plans to transform early learning systems with better coordination, clearer learning standards and meaningful workforce development. The program is designed to help states provide access to high-quality early learning and development programs to more low-income children from birth to age 5. Kentucky is eligible for up to $60 million in funding from this grant opportunity. "Governor Beshear creates Early Childhood Advisory Council." Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office. July 12, 2011. Web. July 21, 2011. www.governor.ky.gov/media/pressreleases/.
Read the full article at the governor.ky.gov website here.
New crib standards may affect your program! Read more here.
The SF-425 has replaced the SF-269 for reporting expenditures. Beginning with budget periods which end from January 1 - March 31, 2011, and for all budget periods thereafter, all affected ACF grantees will be required to submit an SF-425 report as frequently as is required in the terms and conditions of their award using due dates for reports to PMS.
To view the reporting due dates or to get copies of the form please visit: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/msg_sf425.html
Luis Hernandez to Serve on National Latino Children's Institute Board. T/TAS is proud to share that Luis Hernandez, T/TAS Early Childhood Education Specialist, has been selected to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Latino Children's Institute.
The National Latino Children's Institute (NLCI) mission is to focus the nation's attention on the contributions and challenges of young Latinos. The newly elected Board members will provide leadership and develop strategic priorities for the new term.
Read the full Capital Wire PR article here.
The 2011 HHS Poverty Guidelines have been released
Download the full Federal Register Income Guidelines Notice in PDF format here.
Find more Poverty Guidlines information at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/.
President's 2012 HHS Budget, from Bob Wilcher, Executive Director, KHSA, 02/14/11 - President Obama has released his FY12 budget proposal (for the year beginning Oct 1, 2011). If adopted, it would provide $8.1 billion for Head Start which is sufficient to maintain all ARRA gains in enrollment and employment.
Here is the text of the President's budget pertaining to Head Start:
Because effective investment in early childhood is so critical
to children’s ability to reach their full potential
and the Nation’s future economic health, the Budget includes $8.1 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start to serve approximately 968,000 children and families, maintaining the historic expansion undertaken with Recovery Act funds. The Budget similarly includes an additional $1.3 billion to support 1.7 million children with child care subsidies. At the same time, the Budget invests in improved quality: supporting a $350 million competition among States to improve program
quality through the Early Learning Challenge
Fund; proposing a Child Care Development Block Grant reauthorization that focuses on improving
quality, protecting health and safety, and strengthening early learning; and supporting proposed regulations to strengthen Head Start by requiring low-performing programs to compete for funding.
To read the full text of the proposed budget, download the PDF here.
T/TAS congratulates Amy Hood Hooten for being elected to represent the Third District on the Butler County School Board in Morgantown, Kentucky. Amy views the School Board seat as an opportunity for her to contribute to her community, and to work with board members to face major challenges of budget cuts and reduced funding. Amy wants to ensure the School Board continues to offer a variety of choices and opportunities for the children and youth of Butler County of fewer resources, and for students to have as many education opportunities as possible. Read more here.
Multicultural Principles revised, from ACF-IM-HS-10-02, 05/11/10 - The Office of Head Start (OHS) is pleased to announce the publication in English and Spanish of Revisiting and Updating the Multicultural Principles for Head Start Programs Serving Children Ages Birth to Five.
Revisiting and Updating the Multicultural Principles for Head Start Programs Serving Children Ages Birth to Five highlights the ten original Multicultural Principles and includes a brief research review, key implications, stories from the Head Start community, as well as reflective questions or activities. Head Start programs should continue to embrace the original “challenge” and use this updated resource to improve programming and service delivery for children and families.
Read the full IM and view the revised publication here.
Luis Hernandez, T/TAS ECE Specialist, joins Parents as Teachers Board.
Check it out here!
Audit Extension
Recently, the Office of Management and Budgeting (OMB) issued a correspondence prohibiting the extension of the submission of the annual audit by the Federal cognizant or oversight agency. The instructions are intended to support transparency and accountability. Therefore, all Head Start grantee and delegate agencies must comply with the audit submission requirements contained in OMB Circular A-133.320(a). The audit shall be completed and the data collection form shall be submitted within the earlier of 30 days after receipt of the auditor’s report(s), or nine months after the end of the audit period.
Grantee and delegates agencies should work closely with their auditor, to ensure compliance with the instructions.
If additional information is needed, you may contact T/TAS.
Information for ARRA Grant Recipients
The ARRA requires that ARRA-funded grants be individually tracked to monitor each grantee’s advances and expenditures. Consequently, PMS requires the establishment of ‘P’ accounts for all grantees receiving ARRA funds to enable grant-by-grant tracking. Each ‘P’ account has associated ‘subaccounts’ that the grantor agency must establish and each subaccount represents a discrete ARRA-funded grant.
T/TAS can provide all the on-site technical assistance or training you need to help establish, manage, and monitor the required accounts for ARRA funding. To learn more, call T/TAS at 800-882-7482 or email us at ttas.info@wku.edu.
Technology Tools for Creating Professional Development Readiness
Readings & Resources for ECE 2.0
By Chip Donohue, Director of Distance Learning, Erikson Institute
Download HERE
Training and Technical Assistance Services at Western Kentucky University is pleased to extend an invitation to provide targeted training to your Policy Council, Governing Body, and Management Team. The roles and responsibilities of the Governing Body and the Policy Council, as outlined in the Head Start Act and the Head Start Program Performance Standards require planning, communication, and a clear vision. T/TAS can tailor professional development opportunities that are accurate, relevant, and up‐to‐date to include in your technical assistance plan today!
View our online flyer for more information
http://www.ttas.org/pdf/HeadStartActFlyer.pdf
Resources:
The FY2012 Office of Head Start Monitoring Protocol
National Institute for Literacy
Swine Flu Information from CDC!
The 2011 Family Income Guidelines
The Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007
Don't forget to visit our Complimentary Resources and Product Catalog web page!
