Title I Part A - Sec. 1119

Coordination Requirements

While the requirement for coordination between LEAs and Head Start Agencies as well as other entities carrying out early childhood development programs is not new, ESSA does now require that the LEA will have agreements these organizations. Prior to re-authorization, the burden was on Head Start to have the agreements. The required activities have not changed. Since the transition components for students are described in the updated LEA Plan and include other grade transitions beyond the preschool to kindergarten students, the old transition-coordination plans no longer meet the requirements. Several possible agreements are provided here and on the Title website. LEAs may also develop their own document or incorporate the requirements into the agreement LEAs have with organizations regarding the Birth to three Program, as long as it meets the requirements. See the list and map on the following pages to determine which organization the LEA will need to coordinate with.

COORDINATION REQUIREMENTS

Each local educational agency receiving assistance under this part shall carry out the activities described with Head Start agencies and, if feasible, other entities carrying out early childhood development programs. Each local educational agency shall develop agreements with such Head Start agencies and other entities to carry out such activities.

The activities that increase coordination between the local educational agency and a Head Start agency and, if feasible, other entities carrying out early childhood education programs serving children who will attend the schools of the local educational agency, including:

• developing and implementing a systematic procedure for receiving records regarding such children, transferred with parental consent from a Head Start program or, where applicable, another early childhood education program
• establishing channels of communication between school staff and their counterparts (including teachers, social workers, and health staff) in such Head Start agencies or other entities carrying out early childhood education programs, as appropriate, to facilitate coordination of programs
conducting meetings involving parents, kindergarten, or elementary school teachers, and Head Start teachers or, if appropriate, teachers from other early childhood education programs, to discuss the developmental and other needs of individual children
• organizing and participating in joint transition-related training of school staff, Head Start program staff, and, where appropriate, other early childhood education program staff
• linking the educational services provided by such local educational agency with the services provided by local Head Start agencies

REVIEW EXPECTATIONS

During a review, the LEA will need to provide a copy of the agreement between the appropriate Head Start Agencies and/or local early childhood programs. If there are none, the LEA needs to show that it at least reached out to the Head Start Regional office to determine that there are no students attending Head Start.