An NPRM proposing improvements to the Head Start Designation Renewal System (DRS) was published in the Federal Register on Aug. 13, 2019. It specifically addresses the Classroom Assessment Scoring System: Pre-K (CLASS®) condition and the fiscal condition related to audit findings.
The NPRM proposes to eliminate the requirement for competition if a grantee scores in the lowest 10 percent in any CLASS® domain. It seeks to raise the absolute thresholds for competition in the three CLASS® domains to 2.5 for Instructional Support, 5 for Classroom Organization, and 5 for Emotional Support. Absolute thresholds would establish clear and consistent targets. It would allow grantees to know immediately when they receive their CLASS® scores if they are required to compete, eliminating the period of uncertainty in programs. The NPRM also proposes to add a second criterion to the fiscal condition. The new criterion would require a grantee to compete if it had any audit findings associated with Head Start funds in two audit reports related to the first three fiscal years of their five-year grant cycle. The current going concern criterion would remain part of the condition.
Access the NPRM
Select this link to review the published NPRM: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/08/13/2019-17024/head-start-designation-renewal-system
Submitting Your Comments
The next critical step in this process is for the Office of Head Start to hear from you. Please submit comments on this NPRM between Wednesday, Aug. 13 and Friday, Sept. 27, 2019. To submit comments electronically, follow the "Submit a comment" instructions in the Federal Register. This approach is our preferred method for receiving comments. However, if this is not possible, you may send comments via the U.S. Postal Service to:
Office of Head Start
Attention: Director of Policy and Planning
330 C Street SW, 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20201
We will post all comments without change to www.regulations.gov, so please do not include any personal or sensitive information. We will use your comments to help shape our decisions for a final rule.
Last Updated: August 22, 2024