Program Governance

The program operates a formal structure of shared governance through which parents can participate in policy making decisions about the Head Start program. The structure includes:

• Capital Area Community Action Agency Board of Directors
• Head Start Policy Council
• Parent Committees

We highly value the parents’ opinions and feedback. Head Start emphasizes that program decisions be made with parent input. All parents of enrolled children are automatically members of the Parent Committee at their respective centers, and we require the majority of Head Start Policy Council members to be parents currently enrolled in the program with the remaining members being community representatives.

Parent Committees

Each Head Start center establishes a Parent Committee during the initial parent meeting that is formed through the election of a chairperson, vice-chairperson, policy council representative, alternate policy council representative, secretary, and those wishing to serve on Service Area Advisory Committees. Parents come together for Parent Committee meetings to talk about their children, Head Start education and activities, community issues, and family issues.

Policy Council

Parents participating as Policy Council Representatives have the responsibility to serve one evening per month for a full calendar year on the Head Start Policy Council, which is a formal group of parents and community representatives which assists in making decisions about the planning and operation of the Head Start program. Parents on the Policy Council assist in making program decisions. Parents also review and discuss a variety of reports and documents including the fiscal report, community assessment, personnel recommendations, and funding applications.