Principle 7: Culturally relevant programming requires staff who both reflect and are responsive to the community and families served.
The Head Start Program Performance Standards reflect Principle 7. The Standards require that:
• effective twoway comprehensive communications between staff and parents are carried out on a regular basis, in a language parents understand;
• staff and program consultants are familiar with the ethnic background and heritage of families;
• meetings and interactions with families are respectful of each family’s diversity and cultural and ethnic background; and
• when a majority of the children speak a language other than English, a classroom staff member (or home visitor) must be hired who speaks their language.