§9832 Definitions

Summary

Defines key words used for Head Start and related rules. It gives short, plain meanings for terms you will see in the rules, like who counts as a child with a disability, what counts as a deficiency, and who the Secretary and State are. Child with a disability — a child covered by federal special-education and early-intervention rules. Deficiency — a serious or widespread failure by an agency, including threats to health or safety, misuse of funds, denial of parents’ roles, failure to meet early-childhood standards, loss of legal or financial standing, or other unresolved legal or program failures. Delegate agency — a public, private nonprofit (including community groups), or for-profit group that a grantee gives responsibility to for running Head Start. Family literacy services — sustained services that mix parent-child literacy activities, parent training, parent job- and money-skills training, and child education. Financial assistance — help by grant, agreement, or contract; payments may be in installments, in advance, or by reimbursement with corrections for over- or underpayments. Full calendar year — every day except Saturday, Sunday, and a legal public holiday. Full-working-day — at least 10 hours per day, subject to state limits for young children. Head Start classroom — a child group led by two paid staff (teacher and aide or two teachers), and where possible a volunteer. Head Start family day care — services in a private home that is not the child’s home. Home-based Head Start — services in the child’s own home. Homeless children — has the federal definition for homeless children and youths. Indian tribe — a Native American group eligible for federal Indian programs, including Alaska Native villages under ANCSA. Institution of higher education and local educational agency — have the federal meanings from education law. Interrater reliability — how well two or more independent observers get the same result using the same tool. Limited English proficient — a child whose home language is not English or who comes from a non-English environment and whose English difficulty may keep them from doing well in an English classroom or joining fully in society. Migrant or seasonal Head Start — programs for families in agricultural work who move (migrant) or who work primarily seasonally (seasonal). Mobile Head Start — services using moveable equipment set up regularly in community sites, working with home programs or as a classroom. Poverty line — the official OMB poverty line adjusted for changes in the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers over the 1-year period before adjustment and for family size. Principles of scientific research — rigorous, systematic, objective methods that use empirical data, proper analyses, reliable measures, causal claims only with strong designs (for example, random assignment), clear methods for replication, peer review or expert critique, and consistent results across studies. Professional development — sustained, high-quality training for Head Start staff that improves teaching and services, is developed with teacher and leader input, fits children’s development, can include short workshops when they match the program’s plan, and helps teachers gain content knowledge, classroom skills, methods based on valid research, supports for limited-English children, and ways to teach children with disabilities. Scientifically based reading research and scientifically valid research — research that uses rigorous empirical methods, valid measures, strong data analysis, and review by peers or experts. Secretary — the Secretary of Health and Human Services. State — includes a State, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and also the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Unresolved area of noncompliance — a failure to fix a problem within 120 days, or within any extra time the Secretary allows, after the Secretary gives notice.