Board approves Head Start recruitment and selection priorities; staff to continue quarterly reporting

The Board of Supervisors on April 15 approved the Head Start program’s recruitment and selection priorities for fiscal year 2025–26 and received the program’s fiscal update through February 2025.

County staff told the board the priorities and selection criteria are unchanged from the current year and were approved earlier by Head Start’s Policy Council on March 19. For infant/toddler slots, the program’s priorities will continue to emphasize children involved with child protective services, children in foster care, and families with the lowest incomes. For preschool slots, priority order remains: children involved with CPS, children with diagnosed disabilities, 4‑year‑olds not in transitional kindergarten, then low‑income 3‑year‑olds and those up to 15% above federal poverty guidelines. Head Start requires at least 10% of enrollment to be children with disabilities; the county reported it is currently meeting that threshold.

Marla Stewart (Employment & Human Services) and Scott Thompson presented the monthly Head Start report. They also described recent federal changes: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services consolidated regional offices, closing the San Francisco regional office that previously handled the county’s Head Start program. County Head Start officials said they will use the Head Start Enterprise System correspondence tool to report unusual incidents and continue to document contact attempts with federal staff.

The board heard public comment in support of Head Start outreach and the need for culturally competent services. Supervisors approved the recruitment and selection plan on a unanimous vote. Staff said they will continue required reporting, prepare for state and federal program self‑evaluations due in June, and finalize plans to run enrollment clinics and targeted outreach.