News


NEW FEDERAL STANDARDS AIM TO PUSH HEAD START INTO 21ST CENTURY


WRITTEN BY SEAN GALLAGHER |SEAN@STNONLINE.COM T


he federal government released its much-anticipated Head Start program revisions, the first comprehensive update of the standards since the specifications were originally published in 1975. Transportation is men-


tioned about 80 times.


Te implementation date for the revised standards go into effect next month. Te U.S. Department of Health and Human Services an- nounced the new standards on Sept. 1 to further improve and strengthen Head Start. Stakeholders have long criticized the transportation regulations as being outdated and a burden on operations.


When dealing with current homeless students who are unable to


regularly attend classes because of personal transportation issues, the new standards state: “Te program must utilize community resources, where possible, to provide transportation for the child.” Alternatively, if a program does not provide transportation, it


is required to offer information about the available public transit services, listing the options in recruitment material. Te Office


of Head Start and the Administration of Children and Families estimate that about 40 percent of agencies across the country offer transportation services. As for children with disabilities, the HHS amended Head


Start so that the program would “ensure there are school buses or allowable alternate vehicles adapted or designed for transportation of children with disabilities available as necessary to transport such children enrolled in the program.” Te new standards have also updated regulatory language specif- ically on the equipment used for transporting children enrolled in Head Start, such as emergency technology, auxiliary seating, child restraint systems, and vehicle maintenance. In addition, driver standards have been toughened, particularly in terms of health, stating that before a driver can begin work, “A medical examination, performed by a licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathy, establishing that the individual possesses the physi- cal ability to perform any job-related functions with any necessary accommodations.” ●


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