An ISD or subrecipient may partner with Head Start to create a GSRP/Head Start “Blend” within a classroom. This is accomplished by blending part-day GSRP and Head Start funding resulting in a school day of PreK programming. The traditional 4-day Blend classroom operates for a minimum of 120 days; the 5-day Extended Blend classroom operates for a minimum of 180 days. The funding for the GSRP portion of the day in a traditional 4-day Blend is the same as part-day GSRP. The funding for the GSRP portion of the day in the 5-day Extended Blend is the same as 5-day part-day extended GSRP. See the
ISD Administration of GSRP section of this manual and
resources for that section for more information.
4-day GSRP/Head Start Blend and 5-day Extended Blend PreK programs must operate for at least the same length of day as the local school district’s/public school academy’s first grade program. A school-day, versus a part-day, daily routine must be implemented. A child may not participate in GSRP for a part-day session in one classroom and then transition to a Head Start part-day session in another classroom.
All Head Start and GSRP policies and regulations must be applied to the blended classrooms, with the highest standard from either program adhered to, except as detailed in the
ISD Administration of GSRP section of this manual. All children funded by a Blend option must qualify for and be concurrently enrolled in both programs. Classrooms that include 4-day GSRP/Head Start Blend enrollment meet Head Start requirements for days in session. Classrooms that include 5-day Extended GSRP/Head Start Blend enrollment meet GSRP 5-day Extended Option requirements for days in session.
For classrooms that include 4-day GSRP/Head Start Blends or 5-day Extended Blends and where Head Start has the preponderance of responsibility, Head Start is contracted as the GSRP subrecipient. When the subrecipient delivering 4-day GSRP/Head Start Blend or 5-day Extended Blend classrooms is other than Head Start, considerations include collaboration on features such as enrollment, attendance, classroom tools and forms, cost allocation for the teaching team and classroom services, comprehensive services, and monitoring of requirements for both programs. The responsibility for each of these program requirements must be addressed in the formal agreement between Head Start and GSRP.
Educational guidance for the teaching team warrants special consideration. As with all GSRP classrooms, the GSRP Early Childhood Specialist (ECS) is the educational leader, ensuring that the program evaluation tool is administered and monitoring child assessment data. The ECS must also collaborate with the Head Start Education Manager as detailed within the written agreement. If both the ECS and the Head Start Education Manager are to support the classroom, they must also collaborate on feedback sessions, goal setting, and professional learning so that there is a systematic approach with consistent messaging and manageable expectations for teaching teams.
