SUBJECT: Selection Process

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE: ATCAA Early Childhood Services has established selection criteria that prioritize all eligible applicants for enrollment.

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE:

ATCAA Early Childhood Services Selection Criteria

Each eligible child is prioritized for placement according to the ATCAA Early Childhood Services Selection Criteria. In order to qualify for any program option children must meet income guidelines, and submit current immunizations, and birth certificate. Age requirements for Early Head Start include children birth to three years of age. Age requirements for Head Start and California State Preschool Program (CSPP) include children 3 years of age by December 2^nd of the current school year up until kindergarten age eligibility.

Priority will be focused on children with greatest need according to the criteria below.

ATCAA employees may submit an application for Early Childhood Services and must follow the same selection process that is used for all other clients. Employees may not receive special consideration or priority. In addition, all employee applications for services provided by this agency must be reviewed and approved by the Early Childhood Services Director and the ATCAA Executive Director prior to receiving any services.

Early Head Start/Head Start:

1. The Parent Policy Council reviews and approves the Child Selection Criteria annually.

2. ATCAA will serve eligible residents of Amador and Tuolumne Counties.

3. A child who is enrolled in an Early Head Start/Head Start program out of our area and who moves into Amador or Tuolumne County will be considered a re-enrollee. A child currently enrolled in our program transferring to another center or Home Base within our area will also be considered a re-enrollee. In either case the child will be placed according to the selection criteria. Siblings of currently enrolled children, former Head Start, or Early Head Start children transitioning to Head Start are not considered re-enrollees. Those siblings or Early Head Start children are considered new and must go through the application process.

4. ATCAA Early Head Start/Head Start ensures that children who are categorically eligible, (public assistance, SSI, homeless and foster care) are given priority for enrollment.

5.  ATCAA Head Start ensures that children whose families meet federal poverty guidelines are given priority for enrollment. However, ATCAA Head Start may enroll children from families whose income is in the 100 – 130% of poverty range if there are no other children on the waiting list. The number of enrollees in the 100% - 130% of this category cannot exceed 35% of the total funded enrollment. Furthermore, ATCAA Early Head Start/Head Start may enroll an additional 10% of children whose family income exceeds the federal poverty  guidelines, with no upper income level limit.

6. ATCAA Head Start will maintain not less than 10% of enrollment opportunities of children who meet the definition for children with disabilities according to Section 1305.2(a) in the Head Start Performance Standards,  640(d)(1) of the Head Start Act and as determined in Section 619 or Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

7. ATCAA Early Head Start ensures that pregnant moms will receive additional priority points in order to meet funded enrollment requirements.

8. ATCAA Early Head Start/Head Start distributes additional priority points for those families deemed high risk or high need.

9. ATCAA Head Start Selection Criteria listed in order of priority:

1.      Re-enrolling children and categorically eligible children.

2.   Income eligible children with disabilities.

3.   Four year old children, income eligible.

4.      Four year old children, over income with disabilities.  

5.     Three year old children that are income eligible.

6.     Three year old children, over income with disabilities.

7.      Four year old children that are100-130% of the federal poverty guidelines.

8.     Three year old children that are 100-130% of the federal poverty guidelines.

9    Four year old children that are over income.

10.  Three year old children that are over income.

10. Professional Referrals will be evaluated and priority established on an individual basis by the Eligibility Staff.

11. Waiting List will be established and prioritized according to this ATCAA Early Head Start/Head Start Selection criteria and will be maintained by Eligibility Staff.

12. Application date: Each application will be date stamped upon receipt. This date may be used in determination of priority if two applicants have identical priority points.

CSPP Full Day/Full year

1. General Requirements:

1. ATCAA Early Childhood Services must first check with the County Centralized Eligibility List (CEL,) for names of eligible children and families that meet the program requirements. If there is no eligible children on the CEL that meets the agency requirements the program may use their own waiting list to fill vacancies.

2.  Child’s parent(s) must live and/or work in the State of California. Parent(s) must provide street address, post office address, income verification, or statement of intent to live or work in California to satisfy this requirement.

3. Families will establish eligibility at the time of initial enrollment and provide ongoing eligibility documentation as family size and income changes occur.

4. Families must meet one of the following need requirements to receive services for more then four hours a day. This program is for parents who are working, attending school or seeking employment, in job training, seeking permanent housing, parental incapacitation or have a referral from Child Welfare Services.

5. In some cases childcare fees may apply, which are based on the families’ income and size according to the State Schedule for Family Fees.

Selection Criteria:

1. First priority should go to four year old or three year old neglected or abused children who are recipients of child protective services or who are at risk of being neglected or abused.

2.  Second priority should go to four year children in income ranking order.

3.  Third priority shall go to eligible three year old children in income ranking order.

CSPP Part Day/Part Year

1. General Requirements:

1.  ATCAA Early Childhood Services must first check with the County Centralized Eligibility List (CEL) for names of eligible children and families that meet the program requirements. If there is no eligible children on the CEL that meets the agency requirements the program may use their own waiting list to fill vacancies.

2.     Child’s parent(s) must live and/or work in the State of California. Parent(s) must provide street address, post office address, income verification, or statement of intent to live or work in California to satisfy this requirement.

3.   Families will establish eligibility at the time of initial enrollment.

4.      Part day part year programs do not collect family fees.

Selection Criteria:

1.  First priority shall go to four year old or three year old neglected or abused children who are recipients of child protective services or who are at risk of being neglected or abused.

2.  Second priority shall go to four year children in income ranking order.

3.  Third priority shall go to eligible three year old children in income ranking order.

For further information, see the Service Area Plan.