Every Head Start program develops goals, objectives, and action plans. Making decisions based on data can help this planning process. Data plays an important role in implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement throughout the program planning cycle. 

Review Program Planning in Head Start: The Program Planning Cycle to learn more about this cycle, which includes the community assessment and the annual self-assessment, and how to use data with each step.   

Data and evaluation is one of the Head Start management systems that support high-quality services. Review the Management Systems Wheel to learn more about these systems.

Another resource is the Foundations for Excellence. It includes an example of how a Head Start program used its data to set a health and mental health services goal of using a comprehensive asthma approach to promote regular attendance.