(a) Establishment.--The Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program is hereby established to provide Head Start services to additional eligible children and to provide extended day services through existing Head Start providers.
(b) Administration.--The department shall administer the program, consistent with Federal Head Start guidelines. The department shall provide supplemental financial assistance to existing providers of Federal Head Start services.
(c) Coordination.--The department, to every extent possible, shall coordinate the administration of the program with the Department of Public Welfare
and the Department of Health. The purpose of this coordination shall be to:
(1) Identify educational, child-care or other services under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Welfare and the Department of Health that can augment or improve the services available through Head Start providers.
(2) Provide technical assistance to Head Start providers establishing child-care services in order to offer extended day services.
(3) Provide technical assistance to Head Start providers, licensed child- care centers or registered family or group day-care homes entering into collaborative agreements in order to offer extended day services.
(d) Criteria for funding.--To implement the program, the department shall request proposals from existing Head Start providers and may award grants or enter into service contracts with existing Head Start providers that meet all of the following criteria:
(1) Demonstrate the need for additional Head Start services in the provider's service area, whether the need is determined by the percentage of eligible children who are not served in the provider's service area or by the demand for extended day services.
(2) Demonstrate the ability to expand staff, space or services to serve additional children or to provide extended day services:
(i) within the Head Start program;
(ii) in cooperation with licensed child-care centers or registered family or group day-care homes; or
(iii) in cooperation with school entities.
(3) Demonstrate the ability to comply with Federal and State requirements for child-care service providers if the Head Start provider intends to provide extended day services.
(4) Demonstrate the ability to enter into a collaborative agreement with a school entity, a licensed child-care center or a group day-care home or a registered family day-care home, if the head start provider intends to enter into a collaborative agreement.
Credits
1949, March 10, P.L. 30, No. 14, art. XV-D, § 1502-D, added 2003, Dec. 23, P.L. 304, No. 48, § 20, imd. effective. Amended 2005, July 13, P.L. 226, No. 46, § 10, imd. effective.
24 P.S. § 15-1502-D, PA ST 24 P.S. § 15-1502-D
Current through Act 10 of the 2024 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
