Posts by Mel Gravely
The Footprints Head Start Leaves Behind
Lately I’ve been thinking about what would happen if programs like Head Start disappeared. Not in a dramatic way—just realistically. What would families do? Who would be there to fill in all those gaps? Because once you look closely, it becomes pretty clear: Head Start holds a lot more than people realize. The Children’s Equity…
Read MoreExploring Head Start’s Updated Nutrition Guidance
Healthy eating is a big part of helping kids grow, learn, and thrive—and Head Start has always made nutrition a priority. A recent Information Memorandum (IM) from the Office of Head Start gives programs a boost in that direction, reminding everyone what’s already working well and offering fresh ideas to build on that strong foundation.…
Read MoreHHS Closes Half of Head Start Regional Offices
On April 3, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Early Childhood Development, Laurie Todd-Smith, released a statement announcing the closure of half of the Head Start Regional offices throughout the United States, reducing the total from 10 to five. The offices that are closing include Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle. …
Read MoreMaking Sure Kids Are Safe in Head Start: What’s New and Why It Matters
This is the final blog in our series about the recent changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards that were announced in August 2024. For more information about these changes, visit our other blogs on Staff Compensation, Family & Community Engagement, and Community Assessment. You can read the entirety of the final rule here.…
Read MoreHead Start’s Community Assessment: What’s New and Why It Matters
First, a quick note from The Gravely Group regarding what’s going on within the federal government. We understand that there is an enormous amount of uncertainty and confusion right now about the future of the Head Start program (and, let’s be honest, the future of all federal programs). For now, we will take the optimist’s…
Read MoreUnpacking Recent Updates to the Performance Standards for Family and Community Engagement
In August 2024, the Office of Head Start (OHS) shared some long-awaited updates to the Head Start Program Performance Standards. We’ve already talked about one of the most impactful of these updates, a required increase in staff compensation. Understandably, that change has been a hot topic amongst early childhood educators over the past few months.…
Read MoreKnock Focus Area 1 and Focus Area 2 Out of the Park
Is your Early Head Start or Head Start program ready to knock Focus Area 1 and Focus Area 2 out of the park? With the revised performance standards raising the bar, it’s time to ensure your team is prepared to shine—whether it’s a virtual FA1, an in-person FA2 review assessment, or an unannounced visit. We’re…
Read MoreInitiative Encourages Men to ‘Vote like a DAD’
Election Day is November 5, 2024. For more information on voting, visit vote.gov. In a recent op-ed published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, author Kenneth Braswell argues that there’s one aspect of being an active and engaged father that is often overlooked, and that’s civic engagement. Braswell is the CEO of Fathers Incorporated, a non-profit…
Read MoreHead Start Announces Increase in Staff Compensation
Just a few days ago, the Office of Head Start (OHS) announced some long-awaited updates to the Head Start Program Performance Standards. There are a variety of changes, all designed to improve different aspects of program performance. There are improvements to mental health supports, child health and safety, and family engagement. We’ll talk about all…
Read MoreWhat Does Project 2025 Say about Head Start?
First, we want to say that The Gravely Group is a non-partisan entity. We do not endorse any political party or candidate. However, when a political party or candidate proposes sweeping changes to Head Start, we want to make sure our readers are educated on what that proposal is. We encourage everyone to educate themselves…
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