Agreement Between Mississippi State Department of Education
and
Administration for Children, Youth, and Families, Region IV

In order to facilitate further cooperation between the Mississippi public school program and the Head Start program for handicapped children, the following agreement is made:

1. As stated in the 1981-83 Plan for Part B of the Education of the Handicapped Act, Head Start personnel are contacted twice a year by local school district Child Finders to remind them that district personnel are continuing to look for handicapped children. Head Start is involved in the recruitment of preschool, handicapped children. Head Start personnel will refer those handicapped children who leave their program to the appropriate local school district, and will, with parental approval, transfer these children's records to district personnel. When local school district personnel identify preschool handicapped children for whom there are no educational programs in the district, parents will be informed of the services available through Head Start.

2. All Examiners used by Head Start in the process of evaluating children to determine whether they have a handicap will meet State Department of Education criteria for Examiner approval.

Local school district and Head Start personnel should work together to determine the acceptability of Head Start Examiners and to get them approved by the Screening Team utilized by that district. Approval of these Examiners by a ST and the State Department of Education will allow the use of the data generated by Head Start Examiners, if that data meets State Department of Education timelines for acceptance.

3. When local school district, State Department of Education, or Head Start personnel plan inservice in the special education area, they will consider (if space is available) inviting a representative from the other agency(s) to attend the training session.

4. Local School District and Head Start personnel should develop procedures for a smooth transition for handicapped children from Head Start to the district program. These procedures should include:

a. timelines for Head Start to refer handicapped children who will be school age the following year,
b. confidentiality of all student records,
c. definition of who is responsible for what in the transition process,
d. a clear definition of what is required for entry into a school district program for handicapped children, and,
e. how Head Start handicapped children and their parents are to be oriented as to the process for entry into the school district program.

5. Local school district and Head Start personnel are encouraged to investigate other ways that they might cooperate in order to insure better, more cost-efficient ways of providing educational services to handicapped children.

6. Mississippi RAP personnel will share with the State Department of Education statistical data on the 3-5 year old children enrolled in Head Start in Mississippi. They will also keep

Department personnel informed relative to changes in policies and regulations affecting the Head Start program for handicapped children. State Department of Education personnel will share similar data, policies, and regulations with Head Start personnel through the Mississippi RAP.

This agreement is entered into on this 30^th day of March, 1983, and shall be in effect through June 30, 1984. Either party to the agreement may delete any part of the agreement by giving 10 days written notice to the other party.

[Signatures]

C.E. Hollady, Mississippi State Superintendent of Education
P.O. Box 771
Jackson, Mississippi 39205

John L. Jordan, Region IV Program Director
Administration for Children, Youth, and Families
Suite 903
101 Marietta Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30323

Billy McCain, President
Mississippi Head Start Association