Head Start - Policy Council

Head Start encourages parent leadership and governance as part of our program. The Policy Council is a group of  parent representatives from each site/classroom that review, advise, communicate and approve recommendations about the Head Start program. 

Policy Council members are elected at the center’s first parent meeting September or October. There is a training for new members.

Policy council members have responsibilities that include approving or disapproving procedures for program planning, criteria for enrollment and selection, as well as short and long term goals that include budgets.

Becoming a Member
Members are elected by a majority vote at the first Policy Council meeting of the school year. One parent and one alternate are chosen from each classroom.

Types of Members
1. Parents/Family of children currently enrolled in a Seattle Public Schools Head Start Program. The parent can only represent the classroom of his or her child.

2. Local community members
These include 1) private individuals and representatives of public agencies or organizations interested in or responsible for improving the educational opportunities, health, nutrition and socioeconomic well-being of preschool children and their families and 2) past parents who are parents of formerly enrolled Head Start children and who have had a child in the Seattle Public Schools Head Start program for at least six months within the last three program years.

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