Priority for enrollment is given to children who will be eligible for kindergarten in the 2008-09 school year. Children must be 4.0 years old by December 2, 2007 to meet this eligibility test. Child's age must be verified by birth certificate or other such document. Priority for enrollment is given to pre-diagnosed, moderately to severely disabled children who meet age and family income criteria listed above, AND to children with families transitioning off welfare (TANF/CalWORKs). Three-year olds eligible for kindergarten in the 2008-09 school year that are from low income families, with priority going to children with disabilities, are eligible for enrollment after all eligible four-year olds are served.

INFANT/TODDLER PRIORITIES: LOW INCOME FAMILY OR ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; 0TO 3 YEAR OLDS; DIAGNOSED DISABILITY; FAMILY TRANSITIONING OFF WELFARE; FAMILY OR CHILD AT RISK.

Priority is given for infants and toddlers who are the youngest of their age groups: 0-1 year; 1-2 years; 2-3 years. Age must be verified by birth certificate or other document. Priority is given to pre-diagnosed, moderate to severe disability who meet age and family income criteria listed above AND to children with families transitioning off welfare (TANF/CalWORKs). Priority is given to children served by Early Head Start Partners: Cal SAFE, programs of SJC Office of Substance Abuse; Valley Mountain Regional Center;  SELPA infant/toddler programs; SJC Public Health; Creative Child Care, Inc.; County Office of Education programs. Infants and toddlers with risk factors are given highest priority. Pregnant women meeting income tests with at risk pregnancies may enroll in the program for home base services pending birth of infant to be enrolled in program.

Children currently eligible for kindergarten will not be served unless child is denied admission to kindergarten, has an active IEP, or school officials feel Head Start is the placement that best meets the child's needs and referring school district is willing to provide needed special services to child during the child's enrollment in Head Start.

Children who have been enrolled in the local Early Head Start and Head Start program, and are not kindergarten eligible, are automatically eligible for continuing enrollment upon meeting the following conditions: 1. Child remained enrolled throughout the previous school year, or did not drop out after enrolling in Head Start. 2. Child is up to date on immunizations and other health requirements. 3. Child remains age eligible. 4. Family met program expectations during past enrollment in Head Start.

Mid-year enrollment priority goes to children eligible to enter kindergarten in the 2008-09 school year, and to children enrolled in Early Head Start who turn 36 months during the program operation. Mid-year Early Head Start enrollment priority goes to new born infants with risk factors.

Per state law, NO CHILD WILL BE ADMITTED WITHOUT PROOF OF IMMUNIZATION for Polio, DPT, MMR, HIB, Hepatitis B and Varicella. Documentation of immunization status and TB screening must be recorded prior to classroom entry. Documentation of TB and complete physical exam must be submitted within 30 days of entry. Non-custodial parent or guardian enrolling child must provide evidence off medical and education rights for the child.

The San Joaquin County Head Start program does not discriminate on the basis of gender, religion, ability, ethnicity or national origin in the recruitment, selection, enrollment or placement of children in the program.

Head Start operates both center-based and home-base options. The home-based program is adult focused emphasizing the parents' role in the child's education and development. Educators visit the family once weekly for 90 minutes in the family home; biweekly, children and parents have a group activity with other home-based families. Center-based programs conduct classes 4-5 days weekly and conduct home visits four times yearly. Center-based programs operate on part-day and full day schedules. Adults in the home must be working or in a training program/school full time to have child eligible for full day service. Full day services are partnered with other agencies with which children must be co-enrolled and therefore eligible for CalWORKs or Family Resource & Referral reimbursement for full day/full year enrollment. Full day services eligibility must be maintained and documented on an on-going basis..

If more children are eligible for enrollment than slots available in a given area or program unit, selection of children for admission will be based upon: Family income (lowest income having the top priority), child's handicapping condition, special needs of the child or family; family transitioning off welfare (TANF/CalWORKs). Special need issues for San Joaquin County Head Start are the following: Referral of child/family from CPS, school district, other Head Start/special education program, Even Start, or other human service agency or provider; Children being raised by grandparents, single fathers, teen-aged or disabled parent; Children whose parents are going to school or are in job training programs: At-risk child/family needing continued service as follow-up to other programs; family illiteracy; family losing TANF/CalWORKs or SSI eligibility; children of homeless families; children prenatally exposed to drugs.

If an eligible child is not able to be admitted, per the above, the child will be placed on a waiting list and assigned a priority for later admission.

If a service area has an opening and there are no children eligible for enrollment, or on a waiting list, per all the above, and agency documentation substantiates extensive outreach and recruitment effort in the identified service area, then children from over-income families and children three years old, and older infants and toddlers for short stay in Early Head Start may be enrolled according to the following criteria, in order of listed priority:

The lowest income-in relation to family size-of application families are served first. For disability priority, the child must be diagnosed by an appropriate licensed practitioner, or have an active IEP/IFSP. Ten percent of enrollment opportunities are reserved for disabled children. The state kindergarten entry age cut-off date of December 2 is used to determine age group. The oldest children are served first in preschool Head Start. The youngest of each age group are served first in Early Head Start.

NO MORE THAN 10% OF ENROLLED CHILDREN MAY BE FROM OVER-INCOME FAMILIES EXCLUDING CalWORKs. PRIORITY FOR FAMILIES WITH INCOME OVER THE FEDERAL POVERTY INCOME GUIDELINES SHALL BE RESERVED FOR DISABLED CHILDREN. OVER-INCOME ENROLLMENT SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE AGENCY'S PROGRAM UNITS.

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