Policy Principles
Download the Head Start California Policy Platform
Guiding Principles
Funding
Increase Head Start wages to be commensurate with the education and training required.
Alignment
Align poverty eligibility guidelines, staffing requirements, wages, and funding to strengthen the ability of Head Start programs to serve families and children.
Simplicity
Reduce and simplify regulations to remove unnecessary administrative burdens and free agencies to focus on serving children.
Flexibility
Give service providers the flexibility to adapt services and leverage funding to fit local need, and to innovate in designing new services.
Security
Advance policies that promote the economic security of vulnerable families and children.
Legislative Priorities
FEDERAL PRIORITIES
- Dramatically increase wages for Head Start staff to close the wage gap between Head Start and TK-12 teachers.
- Adjust income-eligibility guidelines to account for state, regional or local costs of living.
- Expand categorical eligibility.
STATE PRIORITIES
- Increase funding to the state reimbursement rate system to close the wage gap between Head Start and TK-12 teachers.
- Ease or offer flexibility in workforce requirements to improve workforce recruitment and retention.
- Simplify CCTR regulations to align with Early Head Start.
- Improve integration of Head Start in the state ECE system.
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