Authority to designate
In general
The Secretary is authorized to designate as a Head Start agency any local public or private nonprofit agency, including community-based and faith-based organizations, or for-profit agency, within a community, pursuant to the requirements of this section.
Interim policy
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), until such time as the Secretary develops and implements the system for designation renewal under this section, the Secretary is authorized to designate as a Head Start agency, any local public or private nonprofit agency, including community-based and faith-based organizations, or for-profit agency, within a community, in the manner and process utilized by the Secretary prior to .
Application for designation renewal
To be considered for designation renewal, an entity shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require.
System for designation renewal
In general
Expert panel
Not later than 3 months after , 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.
Composition of expert panel
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.
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.
Designation renewal system
Implementation of the designation renewal system
In general
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).
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.
Transition
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.
Limitation
A Head Start agency shall not be subject to the requirements of the system for designation renewal prior to 18 months after .
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).
Reports to Congress
Designation when no entity is renewed
In general
If no entity in a community is determined to be successfully delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program, as specified in subsection (c), the Secretary shall, after conducting an open competition, designate for a 5-year period a Head Start agency from among qualified applicants in such community.
Considerations for designation
Priority
In selecting from among qualified applicants for designation as a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that have demonstrated capacity in providing effective, comprehensive, and well-coordinated early childhood education and development services and programs to children and their families.
Prohibition against non-Indian Head Start agency receiving a grant for an Indian Head Start program
In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided in paragraph (2), under no condition may a non-Indian Head Start agency receive a grant to carry out an Indian Head Start program.
Exception
In a community in which there is no Indian Head Start agency available for designation to carry out an Indian Head Start program, a non-Indian Head Start agency may receive a grant to carry out an Indian Head Start program but only until such time as an Indian Head Start agency in such community becomes available and is designated pursuant to this section.
Interim provider
If no agency in a community is designated under subsection (d), and there is no qualified applicant in the community, the Secretary shall designate a qualified agency to carry out the Head Start program in the community on an interim basis until a qualified applicant from the community is designated under subsection (d).
Parent and community participation
The Secretary shall require that the practice of significantly involving parents and community residents in the area affected by the program involved, in the selection of Head Start agencies, be continued.
Community
For purposes of this subchapter, a community may be a city, county, or multicity or multicounty unit within a State, an Indian reservation (including Indians in any off-reservation area designated by an appropriate tribal government in consultation with the Secretary), or a neighborhood or other area (irrespective of boundaries or political subdivisions) that provides a suitable organizational base and possesses the commonality of interest needed to operate a Head Start program.
Pub. L. 97–35, title VI, § 64195 Stat. 501Pub. L. 98–558, title I, § 10498 Stat. 2878Pub. L. 101–501, title I104 Stat. 1229Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(e)(1)106 Stat. 1957Pub. L. 103–252, title I, § 107108 Stat. 629Pub. L. 105–285, title I, § 107112 Stat. 2712Pub. L. 108–446, title III, § 305l118 Stat. 2806Pub. L. 110–134, § 7121 Stat. 1378Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(nn)(2)129 Stat. 2176(, , ; , , ; , §§ 107, 108, , , 1230; , (f)–(h), , ; , , ; , , ; ()(3), , ; , , ; , , .)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Pub. L. 89–1079 Stat. 27section 6301 of Title 20The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(H)(i), is , , . 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 and Tables.
Pub. L. 91–23084 Stat. 175section 1419 of Title 20section 1400 of Title 20The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(H)(ii), (N), is title VI of , , . 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 . For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see and Tables.
Amendments
Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(nn)(2)(A)20 U.S.C. 6371Subsec. (d)(2)(H)(i). , 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 ( et seq., 6381 et seq.);”.
Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(nn)(2)(A)(ii)Subsec. (d)(2)(H)(ii) to (vii). , redesignated cls. (iii) to (vii) as (ii) to (vi), respectively. Former cl. (ii) redesignated (i).
Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(nn)(2)(B)20 U.S.C. 6381Subsec. (d)(2)(J)(iii). , 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 ( et seq.)” after “local entities” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 110–1342007— 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).
Pub. L. 108–4462004—Subsec. (d)(3). substituted “U.S.C. 1431–1444” for “U.S.C 1431–1445”.
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(1)1998—Subsec. (a). , 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).
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(2)Subsec. (b). , 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”.
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(3)(A)section 9836a(a)(1) of this titlesection 9836a(b) of this titleSubsec. (c)(1). , 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 , results-based performance measures developed by the Secretary under , 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”.
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(3)(B)Subsec. (c)(2). , (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.
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(3)(C)Subsec. (c)(3). , realigned margins.
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(A)Subsec. (d). , 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.”
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(B)20 U.S.C. 2741Subsec. (d)(3). , inserted “and programs under part C and section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C 1431–1445, 1419)” after “( et seq.)”.
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(i)Subsec. (d)(4)(A). , inserted “(at home and in the center involved where practicable)” after “activities”.
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(v)Subsec. (d)(4)(D). , added subpar. (D). Former subpar. (D) redesignated (E).
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(ii)(I)Subsec. (d)(4)(D)(iii). , inserted “or” at end.
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(ii)(II)Subsec. (d)(4)(D)(iv), (v). , (III), redesignated cl. (v) as (iv) and struck out former cl. (iv) which read as follows: “substance abuse counseling; or”.
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(iv)Subsec. (d)(4)(E). , 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)”.
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(iv)Subsec. (d)(4)(F). , redesignated subpar. (E) as (F).
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(D)Subsec. (d)(7). , 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”.
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(E)Subsec. (d)(8) to (10). –(G), added pars. (8) and (10) and redesignated former par. (8) as (9).
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(5)Subsec. (e). , 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.”
Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(6)Subsec. (g). , added subsec. (g).
Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(a)1994—Subsec. (b). , inserted “(including Indians in any area designated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as near-reservation)” after “Indian reservation”.
Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(b)(2)Subsec. (c)(1). , (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).
Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(b)(1)Subsec. (c)(2). , (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.”
Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(b)(1)Subsec. (c)(3). , (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;
section 9846(b) of this title“(C) measure the compliance of the programs of such agency with the performance standards in effect under ; and
“(D) identify the types and conditions of facilities in which such programs are located.”
Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(b)(1)Subsec. (c)(4). , 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.”
Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(1)Subsec. (d). –(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 , to then existing Head Start agencies.” after first sentence and “subject to the preceding sentence” after “as a Head Start agency”.
Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(3)(B)20 U.S.C. 2741Subsec. (d)(3). , inserted “, including Even Start programs under part B of chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( et seq.),” after “preschool programs”.
Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(3)(C)section 9846(b) of this titleSubsec. (d)(4). , 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 or through referral of such parents to educational services available in the community) in order to aid their children to attain their full potential;”.
Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(4)Subsec. (d)(7). , substituted “non-English language background children and their families” for “non-English language children” and inserted “and” after semicolon.
Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(5)Subsec. (d)(8), (9). , (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”.
Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(d)Subsecs. (f), (g). , 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.”
Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(e)(1)section 9841(a)(3) of this title1992—Subsec. (c)(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 .”
Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(f)Subsec. (c)(2). , designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpars. (B) and (C).
Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(g)Subsec. (d)(8), (9). , added pars. (8) and (9).
Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(h)(3)Subsec. (e). , added subsec. (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f).
Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(h)(1), substituted “(c), (d), and (e)” for “(c) and (d)”.
Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(h)(2)Subsecs. (f), (g). , redesignated subsecs. (e) and (f) as (f) and (g), respectively.
Pub. L. 101–501, § 1071990—Subsec. (c). , 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.”
Pub. L. 101–501, § 108Subsec. (d). , 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).
Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(a)1984—Subsec. (a). , inserted “, within a community,” after “private nonprofit agency”.
Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(b)(1)Subsec. (c). , substituted “unless” for “, except that” in provisions preceding cl. (1).
Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(b)(2)Subsec. (c)(1). , (3), substituted “makes a finding” for “shall, before giving such priority, determine” and “fails to meet” for “meet”.
Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(b)(4)Subsec. (c)(2). , inserted “except that” before “if”.
Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(c)Subsecs. (d) to (f). , added subsecs. (d) and (e) and redesignated former subsec. (d) as (f).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
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 Eighteenth Congress, .
Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
Pub. L. 114–95section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95section 6301 of Title 20Amendment by effective , except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see , set out as a note under , Education.
Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
Pub. L. 103–25242 U.S.C. 9831section 127 of Pub. L. 103–252section 9832 of this titleAmendment by effective , but not applicable to Head Start agencies and other recipients of financial assistance under the Head Start Act ( et seq.) until , see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(e)(2)106 Stat. 1957
Pub. L. 102–401section 2(e)(1) of Pub. L. 102–401section 4 of Pub. L. 102–401section 9835 of this titleAmendment by section 2(f)–(h) of effective , but not applicable with respect to fiscal years beginning before , and amendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Pub. L. 101–501section 1001(a) of Pub. L. 101–501section 8621 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .
Head Start Designation Renewal System
Pub. L. 116–159, div. D, title IV, § 4401134 Stat. 743