A weekly communication source for keeping you updated on the latest local/state/federal HS/EHS information |
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HEAD START DAY: CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF LOVE, LEARNING, & LIFTING UP FAMILIES |
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Save the Dates! IHSA and Illinois Head Start programs, in partnership with local childrens museums in Illinois, are finalizing details to the birthday bash of the month! In alignment with Head Start Awareness Month, local participating childrens museums will offer free admission just for Head Start families and Head Start staff and their families on designated Head Start Days! See below for the schedule thus far! Each museum will have its own celebration program activities and separate registration process. |
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HEAD START DAYS Schedule (still in the works! but these parties are a go!) |
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October 1 - 31: Every day in October! |
| October 4, Saturday: 9AM - 4PM |
| October 9, Thursday: 4:30PM - 7:30PM |
| October 25, Saturday: 9:30AM - 4PM |
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More details to come. For now, save the date(s) on your calendar and tell your HS/EHS families & staff! |
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IDEC WORKFORCE LISTENING SESSIONS for FRONTLINE EARLY CHILDHOOD STAFF |
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Spanish translation available. |
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Frontline early childhood workforce and Head Start staff (i.e. teachers, assistant teachers, home visitors, family advocates, therapists, etc.) are especially encouraged to participate in one of the upcoming IDEC Workforce Listening sessions. It will discuss support, training and professional development, compensation, work environments, and well-being for Illinois' early childhood education and care workforce. These sessions are an opportunity to share successes, challenges, and opportunities, as well as provide input on priorities related to the early childhood workforce. Feedback will be used to inform IDEC's work. |
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TELL CONGRESS TO STRENGTHEN HEAD START IN FY26 |
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The Senate Appropriations Committee recently passed the FY26 appropriations with a $12.36 billion investment in Head Start that includes an incremental cost-of-living adjustment.
While this is a good first step, it falls short of meeting the rising costs programs face in keeping up with inflation, recruiting and retaining qualified staff, maintaining safe and high-quality learning environments, and ensuring every eligible child and family can access the comprehensive services Head Start provides. It is critical that all Members of Congress understand the importance of Head Start and prioritize increased funding for Head Start. As the House prepares its version of the bill, we urge them to match or exceed the Senate’s funding level. |
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NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER ON ILLEGAL LOBBYING |
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A new Executive Order (EO) directs the Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to investigate "illegal lobbying" by federal grantees.
There is not yet specific guidance from the Department of Justice or from HHS as to how this EO will be implemented. If you would like a refresher on advocacy and lobbying, click on Together for Head Start's webinar from June. |
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HUDDLE with IHSA: Wednesday, Sept 10 at 4pm. |
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Join IHSA Executive Director Lauri Morrison-Frichtl and your Illinois Head Start community for a weekly 30-minute check-in. This space is for everyone and anyone to ask questions and to learn the latest on what's going on. See you this afternoon! |
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QUALITY ENRICHMENT CIRCLES (QECSs): KICK-OFF MEETING |
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Date: October 7, Tuesday at 10:00-10:30AM. FREE! Whether you’re brand new to Quality Enrichment Circles or you’ve been coming for years, this kick-off is your chance to see what’s ahead this year. We’ll walk through what’s new, what’s staying strong, and how QEC continues to be a space for real learning, honest reflection, and practical support.
Come ready to connect with peers, ask questions, and get a clear picture of how these circles can help you grow — whether you're in leadership, the classroom, or supporting families. This isn’t just another meeting. It’s the starting line for a year of getting better, together. |
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Not sure where you fit? Send Cathy an email and she'll help you find the right group! Cathy Welsh, Director of Learning - cwelsh@ilheadstart.org |
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WORLD SIGHT DAY IS OCTOBER 9 - JOIN IN PROMOTING WAYS TO "LOVE YOUR EYES" |
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Prevent Blindness is again partnering with the National Association of School Nurses to provide a comprehensive World Sight Day toolkit, including bookmarks, stickers, printable handouts, and more.
The fun bookmarks and stickers are great for early childhood education programs and Head Start. A new resource in the toolkit is a revised list of books about vision.
Materials are available for conducting a “back-to-school night” promotion to educate families on children’s vision issues, hold screening events, and request local and state proclamations for World Sight Day. |
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QUESTION: When is Head Start Awareness Month? How to play: Respond to this Scoop with your answer! (or email lwang@ilheadstart.org). If correct, you'll be put in a raffle for a prize! Winner and answer will be announced in the next Scoop. Last week's Q&A
Question: What does ERSEA stand for?
Answer: Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, Attendance
Winner: Sara Mixer, Executive Director at Parents And Child Together (PACT) for West Central Illinois in Camp Point! Look out in the mail for your Meddy Teddy prize from our friends at The Discovery Source! |
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What's going on at your Head Start Program? Share your recent center activities, congressional visits, field trip adventures, staff spotlights, exciting news, and more!
Let's build community by sharing what's going on IN our community! |
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