The Head Start Self-Assessment Guide:
Your Foundation for Building Program Excellence

The annual self-assessment, when done well, is a key management practice that works to ensure programs are meeting the Performance Standards and providing high quality services for young chidlren and their families. On March 11, 2005, the Head Start Bureau released The Head Start Self Assessment Guide to assist programs with the process. The guide and its tools were developed to lead grantees through a four stage process: (1) Preparing for Self-Assessment; (2) Collecting and Synthesizing Information; (3) Interpreting the Information; and (4) Strengthening the Program.

For the convenience of our subscribers, clients, and customers, T/TAS has posted The Head Start Self-Assessment Guide in a composite format, by section, and by its individual components. This permits grantees to download either the entire document, or to download the specific sections or sub-sections needed for the review of individual service areas. (All of these files require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open, download, or print. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, click here, and follow the on-screen directions to download the program at no cost.)

Click here to download the COMPLETE HEAD START SELF-ASSESSMENT GUIDE in a single file. 336 pages.

The Head Start Self-Assessment Guide is divided into large sections - called Stages. To download by STAGE, please click on the appropriate link below.

• Cover Letter from Windy Hill, Associate Commissioner, Head Start Bureau. March 11,2005.
• Contents and Introduction. 18 pages.
• Stage 1: Preparing for Your Self-Assessment. 28 pages.
• Stage 2: Collecting and Synthesizing the Information. 242 pages. This section provides the information collection worksheets by service area and sub-section.
• Stage 3: Interpreting the Information. 26 pages.
• Stage 4: Strengthening your Program. 17 pages.
  

Stage 2: Collecting and Synthesizing the Information (242 pages) is divided five major sub-sections, based on Head Start Service Area. To download Stage 2 by SERVICE AREA, please click on the appropriate link below. (Please note, if you downloaded Stage 2 above, you have already downloaded all of the sub-sections listed below.)

• Management Systems. 88 pages.
• Child Development & Health Services. 68 pages.
• Family & Community Partnerships. 39 pages.
• Program Design. 37 pages.
• Using Child Outcomes in Program Self-Assessment. 10 pages.

The five major sub-sections of Stage 2 are further divided into specific individual worksheets, referred to as Booklets. To download Stage 2 by BOOKLET, please click on the appropriate link below. (Please note, if you downloaded Stage 2 by Service Area or by Stage, you have already downloaded all of the booklets listed below.)

• Stage 2 Overview. 1 page.
• Booklet 1 - Management Systems: Program Governance. 10 pages.
• Booklet 2 - Management Systems: Planning. 10 pages.
• Booklet 3 - Management Systems: Communication. 10 pages.
• Booklet 4 - Management Systems: Recordkeeping and Reporting. 17 pages.
• Booklet 5 - Management Systems: Ongoing Monitoring. 8 pages.
• Booklet 6 - Management Systems: Human Resources. 11 pages.
• Booklet 7 - Management Systems: Fiscal Management. 22 pages.
• Booklet 8 - Child Development & Health Services: Prevention and Early Intervention. 10 pages.
• Booklet 9 - Child Development & Health Services: Tracking and Follow-Up. 7 pages.
• Booklet 10 - Child Development & Health Services: Individualization. 10 pages.
• Booklet 11 - Child Development & Health Services: Disailities Services. 10 pages.
• Booklet 12 - Child Development & Health Services: Curriculum and Assessment. 31 pages.
• Booklet 13 - Family & Community Partnerships: Family Partnership Building. 12 pages.
• Booklet 14 - Family & Community Partnerships: Parent Involvement. 14 pages.
• Booklet 15 - Family & Community Partnerships" Communty and Child Care Partnerships. 13 pages.
• Booklet 16 - Program Design: Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance. 13 pages.
• Booklet 17 - Program Design: Facilities, Materials, Equipment, and Transportation. 24 pages.
• Booklet 18 - Using Child Outcomes in Program Self-Assessment. 10 pages.
  

All of these files are reproduced directly from the original PDFs published by the Head Start Bureau on the What's New? Alert page of the Head Start Information and Publiations Center's website at www.headstartinfo.org. T/TAS is not responsible for the content of any of these files.