(c) System for designation renewal
(1) In general
The Secretary shall develop a system for designation renewal that integrates the recommendations of the expert panel convened under paragraph (2) to determine if a Head Start agency is delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program that meets the educational, health, nutritional, and social needs of the children and families it serves, and meets program and financial management requirements and standards described in
section 9836a(a)(1) of this title, based on—
(A) annual budget and fiscal management data;
(B) program reviews conducted under
section 9836a(c) of this title;
(C) annual audits required under
section 9842 of this title;
(D) classroom quality as measured under
section 9836a(c)(2)(F) of this title; and
(E) Program Information Reports.
(2) Expert panel
Not later than 3 months after December 12, 2007, the Secretary shall convene an expert panel of 7 members to make recommendations to the Secretary on the development of a transparent, reliable, and valid system for designation renewal.
(3) Composition of expert panel
The Secretary, in convening such panel, shall appoint the following:
(A)
(i) One member, who has demonstrated competency, as evidenced by training, expertise, and experience, in early childhood program accreditation.
(ii) One member, who has demonstrated competency (as so evidenced) in research on early childhood development.
(iii) One member, who has demonstrated competency (as so evidenced) in governance and finance of nonprofit organizations.
(iv) One member, who has demonstrated competency (as so evidenced) in delivery of services to populations of children with special needs and their families.
(v) One member, who has demonstrated competency (as so evidenced) in assessment and evaluation of programs serving young children.
(B) An employee from the Office of Head Start.
(C) An executive director of a Head Start agency.
(4) Expert panel report
Within 9 months after being convened by the Secretary, the expert panel shall issue a report to the Secretary that provides recommendations on a proposed system for designation renewal that takes into account the criteria in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (1) to evaluate whether a Head Start agency is fulfilling its mission to deliver a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program, including adequately meeting its governance, legal, and financial management requirements.
(5) Public comment and consideration
Not later than 3 months after receiving the report described in paragraph (4), the Secretary shall publish a notice describing a proposed system for designation renewal in the Federal Register, including a proposal for the transition to such system, providing at least 90 days for public comment. The Secretary shall review and consider public comments prior to finalizing the system for designation renewal described in this subsection.
(6) Designation renewal system
Not later than 12 months after publishing a notice describing the proposed system under paragraph (5), the Secretary shall implement the system for designation renewal and use that system to determine—
(A) whether a Head Start grantee is successfully delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program; and
(B) whether the grantee has any unresolved deficiencies found during the last triennial review under
section 9836a(c) of this title.
(7) Implementation of the designation renewal system
(A) In general
A grantee who is determined under such system—
(i) to be delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program shall be designated (consistent with
section 9838 of this title) as a Head Start agency for the period of 5 years described in
section 9833 of this title;
(ii) to not be delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program shall be subject to an open competition as described in subsection (d); and
(iii) in the case of an Indian Head Start agency, to not be delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program shall (notwithstanding clause (ii)) be subject to the requirements of subparagraph (B).
(B) Tribal government consultation and reevaluation
On making a determination described in subparagraph (A)(iii), the Secretary shall engage in government-to-government consultation with the appropriate tribal government or governments for the purpose of establishing a plan to improve the quality of Head Start programs operated by the Indian Head Start agency. Such plan shall be established and implemented within 6 months after the Secretary’s determination. Not more than 6 months after the implementation of that plan, the Secretary shall reevaluate the performance of the Indian Head Start agency. If the Indian Head Start agency is still not delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program, the Secretary shall conduct an open competition as described in subsection (d), subject to the limitations described in subsection (e).
(8) Transparency, reliability, and validity
The Secretary shall ensure the system for designation renewal is fair, consistent, and transparent and is applied in a manner that renews designations, in a timely manner, grantees as Head Start agencies for periods of 5 years if such grantees are delivering high-quality and comprehensive Head Start programs. The Secretary shall periodically evaluate whether the criteria of the system are being applied in a manner that is transparent, reliable, and valid.
(9) Transition
(A) In general
Each Head Start agency shall be reviewed under the system for designation renewal described in paragraph (6), not later than 3 years after the implementation of such system.
(B) Limitation
A Head Start agency shall not be subject to the requirements of the system for designation renewal prior to 18 months after December 12, 2007.
(C) Schedule
The Secretary shall establish and implement a schedule for reviewing each Head Start agency under the system for designation renewal described in paragraph (6), consistent with subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(10) Reports to Congress
(A) make available to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate the report described in paragraph (4);
(B) concurrently with publishing a notice in the Federal Register as described in paragraph (5), provide a report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate that provides a detailed description of the proposed system described in paragraph (5), including a clear rationale for any differences between the proposed system and the recommendations of the expert panel, if any such differences exist; and
(C)
prior to implementing the system for designation renewal, provide a report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate—
(i) summarizing the public comment on the proposed system and the Secretary’s response to such comment; and
(ii) describing the final system for designation renewal and the plans for implementation of such system.
References in Text
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(H)(i), is Pub. L. 89–10, Apr. 11, 1965, 79 Stat. 27. Title I of the Act is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 6301 et seq.) of chapter 70 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6301 of Title 20 and Tables.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(H)(ii), (N), is title VI of Pub. L. 91–230, Apr. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 175. Part C of the Act is classified generally to subchapter III (§ 1431 et seq.) of chapter 33 of Title 20, Education. Section 619 of the Act is classified to section 1419 of Title 20. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1400 of Title 20 and Tables.
Amendments
Subsec. (d)(2)(H)(i). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(nn)(2)(A), redesignated cl. (ii) as (i), struck out “other” before “preschool programs” and substituted “the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965” for “that Act”, and struck out former cl. (i) which read as follows: “programs implementing grant agreements under the Early Reading First and Even Start programs under subparts 2 and 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6371 et seq., 6381 et seq.);”.
Subsec. (d)(2)(H)(ii) to (vii). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(nn)(2)(A)(ii), redesignated cls. (iii) to (vii) as (ii) to (vi), respectively. Former cl. (ii) redesignated (i).
Subsec. (d)(2)(J)(iii). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(nn)(2)(B), struck out “, such as entities carrying out Even Start programs under subpart 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6381 et seq.)” after “local entities” in introductory provisions.
2007—Pub. L. 110–134 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to authorization of and prerequisites for designation of Head Start agencies in subsec. (a), definition of community in subsec. (b), priority in administration of section provisions in subsec. (c), designation in community without entity entitled to priority and qualified applicants in subsec. (d), designation on interim basis in subsec. (e), involvement of parents and area residents in selection of agencies in subsec. (f), and priority for nonprofit agencies and applicants with demonstrated capacity in subsec. (g).
2004—Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 108–446 substituted “U.S.C. 1431–1444” for “U.S.C 1431–1445”.
1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(1), inserted “or for-profit” after “nonprofit” and “(in consultation with the chief executive officer of the State involved, if such State expends non-Federal funds to carry out Head Start programs)” after “Secretary” in cl. (2).
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(2), substituted “off-reservation area designated by an appropriate tribal government in consultation with the Secretary” for “area designated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as near-reservation”.
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(3)(A), inserted “, in consultation with the chief executive officer of the State involved if such State expends non-Federal funds to carry out Head Start programs,” after “Secretary shall” and “or for-profit” after “nonprofit” and substituted “determines that the agency involved fails to meet program and financial management requirements, performance standards described in section 9836a(a)(1) of this title, results-based performance measures developed by the Secretary under section 9836a(b) of this title, or other requirements established by the Secretary” for “makes a finding that the agency involved fails to meet program, financial management, and other requirements established by the Secretary”.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(3)(B), (C), inserted “, in consultation with the chief executive officer of the State if such State expends non-Federal funds to carry out Head Start programs,” after “Secretary shall” and realigned margins.
Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(3)(C), realigned margins.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(A), inserted in introductory provisions “In selecting from among qualified applicants for designation as a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall give priority to any qualified agency that functioned as a Head Start delegate agency in the community and carried out a Head Start program that the Secretary determines met or exceeded such performance standards and such results-based performance measures.”
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(B), inserted “and programs under part C and section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C 1431–1445, 1419)” after “(20 U.S.C. 2741 et seq.)”.
Subsec. (d)(4)(A). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(i), inserted “(at home and in the center involved where practicable)” after “activities”.
Subsec. (d)(4)(D). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(v), added subpar. (D). Former subpar. (D) redesignated (E).
Subsec. (d)(4)(D)(iii). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(ii)(I), inserted “or” at end.
Subsec. (d)(4)(D)(iv), (v). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(ii)(II), (III), redesignated cl. (v) as (iv) and struck out former cl. (iv) which read as follows: “substance abuse counseling; or”.
Subsec. (d)(4)(E). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(iv), redesignated subpar. (D) as (E). Former subpar. (E) redesignated (F).
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(iii), substituted “, (D), and (E)” for “and (D)”.
Subsec. (d)(4)(F). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(iv), redesignated subpar. (E) as (F).
Subsec. (d)(7). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(D), amended par. (7) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (7) read as follows: “the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of non-English language background children and their families in the community; and”.
Subsec. (d)(8) to (10). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(E)–(G), added pars. (8) and (10) and redesignated former par. (8) as (9).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(5), added subsec. (e) and struck out former subsec. (e) which read as follows: “If, in a community served by a Head Start program, there is no applicant qualified for designation as a Head Start agency to carry out such program, the Secretary may appoint an interim grantee to carry out such program until a qualified applicant is so designated.”
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(6), added subsec. (g).
1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(a), inserted “(including Indians in any area designated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as near-reservation)” after “Indian reservation”.
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(b)(2), (3), (5), inserted “(subject to paragraph (2))” after “the provisions of this section”, struck out subpar. (A), inserted “the Secretary makes a finding that the agency involved fails to meet program, financial management, and other requirements established by the Secretary.” after “unless”, and redesignated subpar. (B) as par. (2) and concluding provisions as par. (3).
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(b)(1), (3), (4), (6), redesignated par. (1)(B) as (2) and realigned margins, substituted “If” for “except that, if” and “paragraph (1)” for “subparagraph (A)”, and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows:
“(2)(A) The Secretary shall conduct a full review of each designated Head Start agency at least once during each 3-year period, and shall determine whether each agency meets program and fiscal requirements established by the Secretary.
“(B) The Secretary shall conduct a review of each newly designated Head Start agency immediately after the completion of the first year such agency carries out a Head Start program.
“(C) The Secretary shall conduct followup reviews of Head Start agencies when appropriate.”
Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(b)(1), (5), redesignated concluding provisions of par. (1) as (3), substituted “this subsection” for “this paragraph”, and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: “In carrying out a review of each Head Start agency under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall—
“(A) to the maximum extent practicable, carry out such review by using employees of the Department of Health and Human Services who are knowledgeable about Head Start programs;
“(B) ensure that an employee of the Department of Health and Human Services who is knowledgeable about Head Start programs supervises such review at the site of such agency;
“(C) measure the compliance of the programs of such agency with the performance standards in effect under section 9846(b) of this title; and
“(D) identify the types and conditions of facilities in which such programs are located.”
Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(b)(1), struck out par. (4) which read as follows: “The results of a review conducted under this subsection shall not be sufficient alone for the purpose of determining whether to continue, or to discontinue, providing funds to a particular Head Start agency.”
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(1)–(3)(A), in introductory provisions substituted “If no entity in a community is entitled to the priority specified in subsection (c) of this section,” for “If there is no Head Start agency as described in subsection (c)(2) of this section, and no existing Head Start program serving a community,” and struck out “Any such designation shall be governed by the program and fiscal requirements, criteria, and standards applicable on September 1, 1983, to then existing Head Start agencies.” after first sentence and “subject to the preceding sentence” after “as a Head Start agency”.
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(3)(B), inserted “, including Even Start programs under part B of chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2741 et seq.),” after “preschool programs”.
Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(3)(C), amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: “the plan of such applicant to involve parents of children who will participate in the proposed Head Start program in appropriate educational services (in accordance with the performance standards in effect under section 9846(b) of this title or through referral of such parents to educational services available in the community) in order to aid their children to attain their full potential;”.
Subsec. (d)(7). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(4), substituted “non-English language background children and their families” for “non-English language children” and inserted “and” after semicolon.
Subsec. (d)(8), (9). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(5), (6), redesignated par. (9) as (8) and struck out former par. (8) which read as follows: “the plan of such applicant to provide (directly or through referral to educational services available in the community) parents of children who will participate in the proposed Head Start program with child development and literacy skills training in order to aid their children to attain their full potential; and”.
Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(d), redesignated subsec. (g) as (f) and struck out former subsec. (f) which read as follows: “The provisions of subsections (c), (d), and (e) of this section shall be applied by the Secretary in the distribution of any additional appropriations made available under this subchapter during any fiscal year as well as to initial designations of Head Start agencies.”
1992—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(e)(1), inserted at end “Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, the Secretary shall not give such priority to any agency with respect to which financial assistance has been terminated, or an application for refunding has been denied, under this subchapter by the Secretary after affording such agency reasonable notice and opportunity for a full and fair hearing in accordance with section 9841(a)(3) of this title.”
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(f), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpars. (B) and (C).
Subsec. (d)(8), (9). Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(g), added pars. (8) and (9).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(h)(3), added subsec. (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f).
Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(h)(1), substituted “(c), (d), and (e)” for “(c) and (d)”.
Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(h)(2), redesignated subsecs. (e) and (f) as (f) and (g), respectively.
1990—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–501, § 107, designated existing provisions as par. (1), redesignated former par. (1) as subpar. (A), added subpar. (B) and pars. (2) to (4), and struck out former par. (2) and last sentence which read as follows:
“(2) except that if there is no such agency because of any change in the assistance furnished to programs for economically disadvantaged persons, then the Secretary shall give priority in the designation of Head Start agencies to any successor agency which is operated in substantially the same manner as the predecessor agency which did receive funds in the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the determination is made.
The provisions of clause (2) shall apply only to agencies actually operating Head Start programs.”
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–501, § 108, inserted at end “In selecting from among qualified applicants for designation as a Head Start agency and subject to the preceding sentence, the Secretary shall consider the effectiveness of each such applicant to provide Head Start services, based on—” and pars. (1) to (7).
1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(a), inserted “, within a community,” after “private nonprofit agency”.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(b)(1), substituted “unless” for “, except that” in provisions preceding cl. (1).
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(b)(2), (3), substituted “makes a finding” for “shall, before giving such priority, determine” and “fails to meet” for “meet”.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(b)(4), inserted “except that” before “if”.
Subsecs. (d) to (f). Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(c), added subsecs. (d) and (e) and redesignated former subsec. (d) as (f).
Change of Name
Committee on Education and Labor of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Education and the Workforce of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Jan. 5, 2011.
Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education.
Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 103–252 effective May 18, 1994, but not applicable to Head Start agencies and other recipients of financial assistance under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) until Oct. 1, 1994, see section 127 of Pub. L. 103–252, set out as a note under section 9832 of this title.
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(e)(2), Oct. 7, 1992, 106 Stat. 1957, provided that:
“The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply only with respect to terminations of financial assistance, and denials of refunding, occurring after July 29, 1992.”
Amendment by section 2(f)–(h) of Pub. L. 102–401 effective Oct. 7, 1992, but not applicable with respect to fiscal years beginning before Oct. 1, 1992, and amendment by section 2(e)(1) of Pub. L. 102–401 effective July 30, 1992, see section 4 of Pub. L. 102–401, set out as a note under section 9835 of this title.
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 101–501 effective Oct. 1, 1990, see section 1001(a) of Pub. L. 101–501, set out as a note under section 8621 of this title.