HEAD START VS. CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES

Grants are made from HHS directly to local programs with a multi-year funding commitment

Subsidies are issued in the form of vouchers (certificates) to parents. Subsidies follow the child

Federal administration of money

Policies are decided at the state level and subsidies are administered on a regional level by 9 Designated Agents

Grants are comprehensive (health and dental services, parent involvement, child assessments, etc.) and based on estimate of cost

Subsidies are limited to direct child care services and capped by state set reimbursement levels

Transportation provided for children

No transportation provided for children

Cost of living adjustments and staff development costs provided

No cost of living adjustments or staff development costs provided

Parents pay no fee

Parents pay fees on a sliding scale basis

Parents are not required to work or be in school

Parents are required to work or be in school full-time

Eligibility determined only once

Eligibility re-determined every 6 months

Eligibility limited to federal poverty level (except for 10% of enrollment)

Income eligibility is 85% of the state median income

Eligibility determined by federal program

Eligibility determined by state policy within federal guidelines

Parent choice is limited to Head Start program in the area

Parent can choose any provider (licensed or unlicensed)

Primary targets are 3 & 4 year olds; primary targets for Early Head Start are pregnant moms and children birth to 3

Children birth to 12 years of age

Most programs operate six hours/day and not in the summer (though there is a federal push for programs to become full-day, full-year)

Services must meet the needs of working families, so services are typically provided full-day, full-year.

Federal mandate requires 50% of classroom staff to have AA by 2003

No education requirements of classroom staff

Programs must meet comprehensive federal Performance Standards

No minimal standards apply.

Primary program goal is school readiness and family supports

Primary program goal is care for children so parents can work