Head Start Workforce Survey

Thank you for participating in NHSA’s annual workforce survey. Over the past four years, NHSA’s workforce surveys have provided critical up-to-the minute data that’s been cited by Congress, the Office of Head Start, the media, and others. With significant new requirements included in the final rule, especially around workforce compensation, it is essential that we have up-to-date information and examples to include in our fight for additional funding from Congress.

Please complete this short survey (less than 10 min) about your current and anticipated workforce challenges. We do ask for your contact information in case we need to follow-up, but we will keep your responses anonymous — you and your program will not be identified without your permission.

Thank you for your contribution!

Workforce Status

How many staff positions does your program have when fully staffed?

How many staff positions are currently vacant?

Compared to the last program year, is the number of staff vacancies:

HigherAbout the sameLower

What are the top two reasons that staff leave your program?

CompensationWork conditions (eg. challenging behaviors, burnout)Other job opportunitiesVaccine mandateLeaving the workforce (eg. retirement or caring for a family member)Work hours/scheduleReduced staffing needs due to change in scopeOther

If other, please describe here.

What are your top two challenges in hiring new staff?

Low compensation Lack of/insufficient benefitsCompetition from school districtsCompetition from other local employers Lack of qualified candidates Work hours/scheduleOther

If other, please describe here.

Although workforce compensation and benefit requirements included in the new Head Start rule do not take effect until 2031, programs will have to consider the budget implications when writing grant renewals before then.

Have you made any estimate in terms of cost or a reduction in slots for this coming year or before 2031, if there is no additional funding to pay for these changes?

YesNo

Please share what your current thinking is on this topic.

Enrollment Status

What is your program’s total funded enrollment?

How many children are currently enrolled in your program?

Approximately how many children are currently on your program’s waitlist?

With respect to the Full Enrollment Initiative (FEI) over the past two years, which of the following apply:

We have not participated in the FEI.We are currently participating in the FEI.We completed the 12 month FEI period.Unsure/Other

What was the outcome of your program's FEI?

We reached 97% enrollment by the end of the 12 month period. We did not achieve 97% enrollment and are awaiting OHS’s decision. We did not achieve 97% enrollment, and OHS has notified our program of its intent to recapture funds and/or reduce our funded enrollment.We did not achieve 97% enrollment, and OHS has proposed something besides recapturing funds and/or reducing our funded enrollment. Unsure/Other

Do you anticipate recent changes in eligibility determinations to have a significant impact on your ability to better meet full enrollment? (Select all that apply.)

Yes, the excessive housing cost calculationYes, the changes in definition of what counts as income Yes, changes to eligibility for AIAN programsYes, changes to eligibility for Migrant and Seasonal Head StartNone of these will make a meaningful difference We are fully enrolled Our problem isn’t a lack of eligible children, it’s a lack of staffOther

If other, please describe here.

Classroom Status

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How many classrooms does your program operate when at full enrollment?

How many classrooms are currently closed?

What is the top reason that you have closed classrooms?

Permanent or temporary staff vacanciesFacilities related (e.g. power outage, post-storm, etc.)Insufficient enrollmentAll our classrooms are openOther

If other, please describe here.

What percentage of the children currently enrolled in your program have a diagnosed or suspected disability, diagnosed or suspected developmental delay, or challenging behaviors warranting additional intervention?

Less than 10%10-20%20-30%30-40%40-50%Greater than 50%

Change in Scope

In the past three years, which of the following apply to your program? (Select all that apply):

We have not applied for a change-in-scope in the past three years. We have been approved for a change-in-scope in the past three years. We have a change-in-scope application currently pending with OHS.We applied for a change-in-scope but were denied.

Approved Change-In-Scope Requests

For the approved change-in-scope requests referenced above, what change was approved?

An increaseA decrease

Head Start Preschool slots

An increaseA decrease

Early Head Start slots

What is the primary reason for this change?

Pending Change-In-Scope Requests

For the pending change-in-scope request referenced above, what are you requesting?

An increaseA decrease

Head Start Preschool slots

An increaseA decrease

Early Head Start slots

What is the primary reason for this change?

For the denied change-in-scope request, what was the reason given?

Looking ahead, do you anticipate needing to apply for a change-in-scope in the next several years?

YesNoUnsure

If yes, why?

Meeting workforce compensation requirements in the final rule Ongoing lack of staff Shifting from Head Start Preschool to Early Head Start slots Facilities Changes in community needOther

If other, please describe here.

Share Your Story

Please share with us anything about staffing, classroom closures, or enrollment that would help us better understand your program’s current operating status.

NHSA will only use the information on this page to help us analyze the data and to follow up if need be. We will not share your name or any identifying information.

About You

Name

Email address

Role

HS/EHS Agency DirectorCenter DirectorOther Senior Leadership RoleOther role

If other, describe here.

About Your Program

Program Name

City

State

2-letter state abbreviation only

Zip

What type of agency is your organization?

Community Action Agency (CAA/CAP)Private/Public non-profit (non-CAA)School systemGovernment agency (non-CAA)Private/Public for-profitCharter schoolTribal government or consortium

Does your program operate Migrant-Seasonal and/or American Indian Alaska Native programs?

Migrant-SeasonalAmerican Indian Alaska NativeBothNeither

Program Identification

NHSA is testing our a way to identify your program so that we don't have ask you all the questions on the previous page in each survey. Please try to find your program using the dropdown system below.

State

Program Name

I can't find my program above.