The Administration for Children and Families released a final rule in the Federal Register, Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming. The rule updates the Head Start Program Performance Standards (the Performance Standards) to respond to concerns affecting the sustainability of Head Start programs. Changes to the standards increase wages and benefits for Head Start educators and other staff, better integrate mental health supports across program services, strengthen processes to support child health and safety, and enhance family engagement services. They also modernize the process programs use to identify and meet community needs.
These updated Performance Standards provide clear federal requirements for:
- Wages and benefits to support the Head Start workforce
- Better integration of mental health across all aspects of Head Start programming
- Quality improvement and clarity of requirements in other service areas
Check out this page for information on where changes have been made to the Performance Standards, clarifying and promotional materials, and resources to support the implementation process.
Federal Register Notice
Read the final rule in the Federal Register.
ACF-OHS-PI-24-05 Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming
This Program Instruction summarizes the final rule and outlines changes to the Performance Standards in three main areas: workforce supports, mental health, and other quality improvements.
Informational Webinar Series
The announcement webinar highlights the updated Performance Standards and how the Head Start community’s input was instrumental in the changes. OHS leadership and staff discuss the goals to increase staff wages and benefits, integrate mental health across services, and support quality improvement.
In the overview webinar, OHS takes a deeper dive into the updated Performance Standards and offers resources and implementation strategies.
PDF Versions of the Performance Standards
This document illustrates where the changes have been made to the Performance Standards.
A clean copy of the current Performance Standards is also available for download.
Fact Sheet
Read a concise overview of the changes.
Compliance Timeline
Review the timeline for compliance with updated Head Start Program Performance Standards requirements, as of Aug. 21, 2024.
Press Release
Read and share this press release with Head Start stakeholders to understand the final rule.
Preamble
This preamble outlines comments from the field received through the proposed rulemaking and explains how they informed the final rule.
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Last Updated: September 20, 2024