What is Policy Council?

The Policy Council is a group of Head Start and Early Head Start parents and community members who help lead and make decisions about our program. Through the Policy Council, parents have a voice in decisions about how the program spends money, what children do in their classrooms, and how the program works with community partners. They work closely with the program's management team and governing body to provide overall direction for the program.

Policy Council's job is to give input in many program decisions, including policies, budget issues, program evaluation and personnel. Members serve on one of four  sub-committees which meet in a location convenient to committee members. The committees learn about finance, personnel, policies and procedures or work on special projects that arise.

Parent representatives to Policy Council do the following:

1. Review and vote on information presented
2. Prepare a brief monthly Center Parent Committee report for Policy Council
3. Help staff interview candidates for staff positions if asked and available.
4. Participate in occasional sub-committee meetings.
5. Help with the program's annual self-assessment.

Policy Council members are elected by the parents of children enrolled in the program. Parent Representatives are elected by their center committee, one representative per center. Two Early Head Start Parent Representatives are elected per county through a voting process as well.  Community Representatives are usually from agencies located throughout Bradford and Tioga Counties. Each parent and community representative has a vote. Staff members attend Policy Council meetings to provide information. They do not vote.

Bradford Tioga Head Start Policy Council meets monthly from 10AM to noon, usually on the third Tuesday morning of the month. Policy Council membership year runs October through September.

Experience is not necessary! You will be working closely with staff along the way, and it’s a great way to meet parents from other centers.