Why Early Planning for Pre-Service Training Sets the Tone for a Successful Head Start Year

As a Head Start director, you know that the start of a new program year is more than a date on the calendar—it’s a strategic opportunity. Among the most critical pieces of that strategy is pre-service training. It’s not just a compliance requirement—it’s the foundation for the culture, quality, and consistency your team will carry forward all year long. And it is a measure of the care and importance that you place on each staff member and the role they play in your program.

Too often pre-service becomes a rushed checklist instead of a meaningful launch. When training is planned late, squeezed in, or treated as a one-size-fits-all event, we see the results in the data: lower staff engagement, inconsistent implementation of Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS), and increased turnover within the first 90 days.

The good news? You can shift that outcome with one key move: plan your pre-service training early—and with purpose.

Why Pre-Service Matters More Than Ever
Head Start and Early Head Start programs are complex systems, offering comprehensive services to children and families with diverse and often high-need backgrounds. Staff members are asked to do deeply meaningful and emotionally intense work—often without formal training in all the areas they’re expected to manage.

Research and program data consistently show that staff who receive clear, intentional, and high-quality pre-service training are:

• 40% more likely to remain past the first 6 months
• Significantly more confident in implementing curriculum and child assessment tools
• Better equipped to support family engagement from the start
• More compliant with HSPPS and CLASS expectations in the first quarter

But quality pre-service training doesn’t happen overnight. The best programs begin planning months in advance, building a training schedule that reflects the actual needs of their staff—and the strategic goals of the agency.

Let’s Talk. Whether you’re looking for full support or just want help refining your plan, now is the right time to connect. Pre-service is more than a start-of-year task—it’s an investment in your people, your program quality, and your long-term success. Help your staff experience success every day and feel validated and supported in their routine tasks. Make sure that the outcomes you expect are those that you invest in.

Let Essential Elements help you craft a pre-service plan that matches your program’s vision and supports strong outcomes for children and families.