Advisory Committee on Head Start Research and Evaluation

The Advisory Committee will maintain and advise the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families regarding the progress of research that is providing a national analysis of the impact of Head Start programs. The Committee will also comment, if the Committee so desires, on the interim and final reports regarding such research to be submitted to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.

The point of contact is Jennifer Brooks.

Charter

Authority

42 U.S.C. 9844(g), Section 649(g)(1) of Head Start Act, as amended. The Committee is governed by the provisions of Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for the information and use of advisory committees.

Objective and Scope of Activities

The purpose of the Advisory Committee on Head Start Research and Evaluation ("the Committee") is to review and make recommendations on the design of the study or studies that provide a national analysis of the impact of Head Start programs. The Committee will also advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services ("the Secretary") regarding the progress of the study.

Description of Duties

The Committee will maintain and advise the Secretary and Assistant Secretary for Children and Families ("the Assistant Secretary") regarding the progress of research that is providing a national analysis of the impact of Head Start programs. The Committee will also comment; if the Committee so desires, on the interim and final reports regarding such research to be submitted to the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.

Agency or Official to Whom the Committee Reports

The Committee provides advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.

Support

Coordination, management, and operational services shall be provided by the Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years

The estimated annual cost for operating the Committee, including compensation and travel expenses for members but excluding staff support, is $257,162. The estimated annual person-years of staff support required is .20FTE, at an estimated annual cost of $28,000.

Designated Federal Officer

ACF will select a full-time or permanent part-time Federal employee to serve as the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) to attend each Committee meeting and ensure that all procedures are within applicable statutory, regulatory, and HHS General Administration Manual directives. The DFO will approve and prepare all meetings agendas, in consultation with the Chair, call all of the Committee and subcommittee meetings, adjourn any meeting when the DFO determines adjournment to be in the public interest, and chair meetings when directed to do so by the official to whom the Committee reports. The DFO or his/her designee shall be present at all meeting of the full committee and subcommittees.

Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings

Meetings shall be held up to three (3) times per year. Meetings shall be open to the public except as determined by the Secretary or other official to whom the authority has been delegated in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b (c)) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Notice of meetings shall be given to the public. Meetings hall be conducted, and records of the proceedings kept as required by applicable laws and Departmental regulations.

Duration

Continuing

Termination

Unless renewed by the appropriate action prior to its expiration, the Advisory Committee on Head Start Research and Evaluation will terminate three months from the date the charter is filed.

Membership and Designation

The Committee shall consist of 21 members appointed by the Secretary. Members shall be experts in evaluation and research, education, and early childhood programs. The Committee shall also consist of six ex-officio members representing the Administration for Children and Families; the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation; the Department of Education; and the Government Accountability Office.

Members shall be invited to serve for four-year terms; such terms are contingent upon the renewal of the Committee by appropriate action prior to its termination. The members for this committee will be special government employees.

Subcommittees

Subcommittee may be established with the approval of the Secretary or designee. Subcommittee members may be composed of the parent committee. The subcommittee shall make recommendations to be deliberated by the parent committee. The Department Committee Management Officer will be notified upon establishment of each Subcommittee and will be provided information on its name, membership, function, and estimated frequency of meetings.

Recordkeeping

The records of the Council, established subcommittees, or other subgroups of the Committee shall be managed in accordance with General Records Schedule 26, Item 2 or other approved agency records disposition schedule. These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C.552.

Filing Date

May 12, 2012

Approved:

Date: May 9, 2012

Secretary: Kathleen Sebelius

Committee Members

J. Lawrence Aber

Jeanne Brooks-Gunn

Margaret Burchinal

Judith Carta

Thomas Cook

Gayle Cunningham

Jerlean Daniel

Linda Espinosa

John Fantuzzo

Danette Glassy

Whitcomb Hayslip

John Love

Tammy Mann

Robert Pianta

Thomas Schultz

Joshua Sparrow

Heather Weiss

Hirokazu Yoshikawa

Martha Zaslow

Ex Officio Members

Sherry Glied, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health and Human Services

Jacqueline Jones, Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Early Learning, Department of Education

Yvette Sanchez Fuentes, Director, Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services

George Sheldon, Acting Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services

Linda Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary and Inter-Departmental Liaison for Early Childhood Development, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services

Michael Yudin, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education