Selection Process
Policy Number: HS-ERSEA
Effective Date: 6-17-13
Relates to: CFR #1305.6,
Title 5: Eligibility and Need
Regulations
Revision Date 6-17-13, 2-24-15
SUBJECT: Selection Process
PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE: ATCAA Early Childhood Services (ECS) will establish and utilize selection criteria and procedures
that prioritize all eligible applicants based on the requirements outlined in section 1305.6 of the Head Start Program
Performance Standards.
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE:
To be considered for selection and enrollment in Early Head Start or Head Start, families must submit an eligibility application,
proof of income or categorical eligibility, and the enrolling child’s birth certificate or other official documentation verifying the
child’s name and age, unless doing so creates a barrier for the family to enroll the child.
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If a family is homeless according to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a child may be selected for
enrollment in Early Head Start or Head Start without immunization or other medical records, proof of residency,
birth certificates, or other documents. In these cases, Family Advocates, Home Visitors or designated staff will
assist parents in obtaining the necessary documentation. (A child may be enrolled, but not enter a center-based
program until California immunization requirements are met.)
To be considered for selection and enrollment in California State Preschool Programs (CSPP), families must submit an eligibility
application, proof of income or categorical eligibility, and the enrolling child’s birth certificate or other official documentation
verifying the child’s name and age.
The income requirements used to determine eligibility for enrollment are based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines for Early
Head Start and Head Start and the California Income Ceilings for California State Preschool programs.
Participation in Early Head Start is open to children from birth to three years of age, and pregnant women of any age, who
meet eligibility requirements.
Participation in Head Start programs is open to children who are 3 years old, or 3 years old by the age-eligible date for public
schools in Amador and Tuolumne counties, and meet eligibility requirements.
To be eligible for California State Preschool Programs (CSPP) children must be 3 years old by the age-eligible date for public
schools in Amador and Tuolumne counties.
Children may not enroll in Head Start or CSPP programs if they are age eligible for enrollment in public schools.
Eligibility applications for eligible children and pregnant women will be prioritized for selection according to the ATCAA Early
Childhood Services Selection Criteria.
Selection priority for enrollment will be given to children and pregnant women with the greatest need for services based on
the criteria below.
Early Head Start/Head Start (EHS/HS):
 Applicants for ATCAA ECS services must be residents of Amador or Tuolumne County.
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To provide continuity of services for children enrolled in Early Head Start or Head Start programs, re-enrollees or
returning students will be given priority for placement in ATCAA ECS programs in accordance with the selection
criteria. Re-enrollees or returning students are defined as the following:
o Children enrolled in Early Head Start or Head Start programs outside of the ATCAA ECS service area that
move to Amador or Tuolumne County will be considered re-enrollees for prioritization and selection
purposes.
o Children currently enrolled in ATCAA Early Head Start or Head Start programs that will return for the next
program year or transfer to another center or home-base program within the ATCAA ECS service area, will
be considered re-enrollees or returning students.
o Siblings of children who are currently enrolled in the program, formerly enrolled in the program, or
transitioning from Early Head Start to Head Start will not be considered re-enrollees and must go through
the new enrollee application and eligibility determination process.
If families wish to transition their children from Early Head Start to Head Start programs, they will be given priority to
support seamless transitions and the continuation of services.
Enrollment priority will be given to children whose families are categorically eligible for services (Families that are
homeless or have children in foster care).
Enrollment priority will be given to children whose families meet federal poverty guidelines.
Up to 10% of ATCAA’s Early Head Start and Head Start funded enrollment slots may be filled with children having
family income that exceeds the federal poverty guidelines (with no upper income level limit).
ATCAA EHS/HS may also enroll children from families whose income is 100% to 130% of the federal poverty level if
there are no other income eligible children on the wait list. The number of enrollees in the 100% to 130% category
cannot exceed 35% of ATCAA’s Early Head Start and Head Start funded enrollment slots.
At least 10% of the ATCAA Early Head Start and Head Start enrollment opportunities will be retained for children
who meet the definition for children with disabilities according to Section 1305.2(a) of the Head Start Program
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).
Pregnant mothers will receive additional priority points when applying for Early Head Start services.
Additional priority points will be assigned if families demonstrate high risk or a high need for services.
Applicants for ATCAA Early Head Start and Head Start programs will be selected in the following order, taking into
consideration selection criteria point values, until all available slots are filled:
o Returning children
o EHS children transitioning to HS who are income eligible or categorically eligible
o Children with the highest number of priority points who are income eligible or categorically eligible
o Children with the highest number of priority points who are over income (not to exceed 10% of total
enrollment).
o Children with the highest number of priority points who are between 100-130% of the federal poverty line.
Selection Criteria point values are as follows:
Parental Status
Foster/legal guardian/grandparent /teen parent
Parent with disabilities
One parent
Two parents
Disability
Child with certified disability IFSP/IEP
Child with suspected disability
Income Points Head Start/Early Head Start
Low income/50% Head Start Poverty Guidelines
Low income/75% Head Start Poverty Guidelines
Eligible/100% Head Start Poverty Guidelines
Over income/1% - 50%
Over income/51% - 75%
Over income 76% - 100%
Other
3
3
2
1
99
3
9
8
7
3
2
0
Child Protective Services/Referral From Indian Child Welfare Act
Homeless
EHS pregnant mother
Referral from other agencies
High risk family/child or English language learner
Full-time 30+ hrs/wk. working, seeking work, school/training
Part-time working, school/training
Age
Returnee or Transfer
4 years old by the age eligible date for public schools
0-3 years old by the age eligible date for public schools
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99
88
9
4
3
3
2
99
9
5
ATCAA EHS/HS centers must maintain compliance with California state licensing regulations. Preschool and
infant/toddler centers are licensed with established age requirements set by Community Care Licensing in
accordance with state regulations. When a center vacancy occurs, the age requirements for the site must be
followed when choosing a child to fill the slot. This means there may be times when a child at the top of the
waitlist may not be selected for enrollment due to state mandated age restrictions for that site. If another
enrollment option is available elsewhere for the child, it will be offered to the child’s family.
Referrals from community partners will be evaluated, and priority established on an individual basis, by the
eligibility staff.
The waitlist will be established and prioritized according to ATCAA Early Head Start/Head Start selection criteria
and maintained by eligibility staff.
Each application will be date stamped upon receipt and this date may be used to determine priority if two
applicants have identical priority point values.
On an annual basis, the Policy Council will review and approve the criteria used to select children and pregnant
women for participation in ATCAA Early Head Start and Head Start programs.
California State Preschool Program (CSPP)
General Requirements:
 Parents applying for State Preschool services for their children must live or work in the state of California and
provide proof of residency to satisfy this requirement.
 Following CDE guidelines, eligibility staff will determine families’ eligibility for services prior to children’s initial
enrollment by reviewing proof of family size and the child’s age, and the income documentation or proof of
categorical eligibility submitted by the children’s parents or guardians
Selection Criteria for CSPP:
 First priority is given to four-year-old or three-year-old children, who are receiving Child Welfare Services/Child
Protective Services or are at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
 Second priority is given to four-year-old children with the least family income as determined by the selection
criteria.
 Third priority is given to eligible three-year-old children with the least family income as determined by the
selection criteria.
ATCAA Employees and Family Members Applying for Services:
 ATCAA employees may submit applications for ECS programs and must follow the same application process as
members of the general public.
 ATCAA employees will not receive special consideration or priority during the selection or enrollment processes for
ECS programs.
 All ATCAA employees must submit a signed Disclosure of Conflict of Interest & Staff Access to ATCAA Services form
when applying for ECS services. The Disclosure of Conflict of Interest & Staff Access to ATCAA Services form must
be signed by eligibility staff and reviewed and approved by the ECS Director and the ATCAA Executive Director
prior to receiving services.
 To avoid an apparent conflict of interest, staff members will not have their children placed in the centers where
they work.