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Policy

As part of the 5-year grant planning process, program options will be determined by community and agency data.

Head Start Center Based options:

  • Part Day classes will operate four days per week, for a minimum of three and one-half hours a day. The program will operate at least 128 days per year of planned class operations.
  • Extended Day classes will operate four days per week, for a minimum of 6.5 hours per day. The program operates in alignment with the school district calendars from the Wednesday after Labor Day through the second week in June.
  • Full Day Full Year classes will operate five days per week, 7:30-5:30, year-round with in- service weeks scheduled in March and August and a one-week closure in December.

Early Head Start:

  • Home Base will operate weekly home visits 46 times per year, and parent-infant and toddler socialization groups twice per month, 22 per year. Combination model will operate class two days per week, for a minimum of three and one half hours per day and twice per month home visits.
  • Extended Day classes will operate five days per week, for a minimum of 6.5 hours per day.
  • Early Head Start programs will run on a yearly basis with in-service weeks planned in March and August and a one-week closure in December.

The minimum length of day does not include transportation time. Program options must meet the needs of children and families as indicated by the community assessment.

Procedure

  1. A program calendar will be developed yearly to ensure the appropriate number of operating days and hours are met. Multiple calendars may be developed to support different models.
  2. The agency will make every effort to schedule makeup days using existing resources if hours of planned class operations fall below the number required per year. Make-up days may be scheduled once per month on Fridays or other non-school days as allowed by the calendar.

This policy complies with Head Start Performance Standard 1302.20,  1302.21(4)

It was approved by Policy Council on April 8, 1997. May 2026

Updated November 2002. September 2003. May 2004. July 2010. May 2013. April 2026.

Head Start of Lane County. All rights reserved.

REVIEWED: December 2020, April 2026