Head Start Enterprise System (HSES)
A stronger foundation for the people behind Head Start
Supporting Head Start programs takes reliable information, coordinated decisions, and systems that help people do their work. The Office of Head Start (OHS) relies on the Head Start Enterprise System (HSES) to oversee grant recipient organizations and program operations nationwide. But aging technology, complicated workflows, and usability barriers made it harder for users to access, manage, and report the information central to that work. Behind the scenes, outdated frameworks added security risks and maintenance demands. OHS needed to strengthen the platform while keeping essential operations moving. Working as part of an integrated delivery team, Systone helped modernize HSES through coordinated improvements to its technology, user experience, accessibility, and ongoing support.
What We Built
Make everyday work easier
We helped improve the interfaces and workflows that grant recipients and program administrators use to manage program information. Human-centered design guided changes to navigation and interactions, making routine tasks easier to follow and complete. Upgrades to the platform’s text editor also improved how users prepare content, with better table formatting, autosave, and more reliable copying and pasting from Word. Together, these changes addressed friction in the everyday work of maintaining accurate, useful program information.
Strengthen the foundation without stopping the work
Modernizing HSES meant improving a system that people continued to depend on. We contributed to phased upgrades across the application framework, user interface technology, database, and automated testing tools. These changes addressed aging dependencies and established a more maintainable technical foundation. By delivering improvements incrementally, the team could manage risks and support business continuity while preparing the platform for evolving program needs.
Build accessibility into the experience
Accessibility shaped improvements to how people navigate and interact with HSES. We helped apply human-centered design and Section 508 and WCAG-aligned practices to interface and workflow updates, addressing barriers alongside broader usability needs. This work supported an experience in which more users could access information and complete essential tasks, with accessibility treated as an ongoing part of application delivery.
Make security and reliability part of delivery
Protecting program information required attention to both access and application behavior. We helped improve authentication flows, session management, multi-factor authentication, and role-based access controls. Automated unit and integration testing supported these changes by helping the team identify defects and reduce regression risks before release. Within the broader delivery process, security findings informed planning and implementation, connecting modernization work to the responsibilities of operating a live federal system.
Keep improvement connected to real needs
Our work extended beyond developing and releasing changes. Through Tier 2 support, troubleshooting, documentation, and coordination with help-desk staff, developers, and program stakeholders, we helped resolve issues affecting daily use. That ongoing connection to users helped the team understand where workflows remained difficult and where technical problems required deeper attention. By combining modernization with operational support, Systone continues to help HSES evolve around the people and programs it serves.