November 2013

• 11/22/13

• Farewell Blog Post from Office of Head Start Director Yvette Sanchez Fuentes
  Farewell from OHS Director Yvette Sanchez Fuentes

July 2013

• 7/01/13

• Information Memorandum
  Five-Year Head Start Project Periods (ACF-IM-HS-13-02)

  Memorándum de Información
  Perìodos de proyectos de cinco años en Head Start (ACF-IM-HS-13-02)

June 2013

• 6/12/13

• Tool Kit
  Sesame Workshop's Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration

  Kit de herramientas
  Niños pequeños, retos grandes: Encarcelamiento

•  

• 6/4/13

• Information Memorandum
  Improving Father Engagement in Head Start and Early Head Start (ACF-IM-HS-13-01)

  Memorándum de Información
  Mejorar la participaciòn del padre en Head Start y Early Head Start (ACF-IM-HS-13-01)

May 2013

• 5/20/13

• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
  Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Regulations

April 2013

• 4/26/13

• Program Instruction
  Final FY 2013 Funding Level (ACF-PI-HS-13-03)

  Instrucción del Programa
  Nivel final de financiación para el AF 2013 (ACF-PI-HS-13-03)

•  

• 4/15/13

• Program Instruction
  Hurricane Sandy Emergency Relief Funds (ACF-PI-HS-13-02)

  Instrucción del Programa
  Fondos de ayuda de emergencia por el huracán Sandy (ACF-PI-HS-13-02)

March 2013

• 3/01/13

• Program Instruction
  Sequestration (ACF-PI-HS-13-01)

  Instrucción del Programa
  Embargo presupuestario (ACF-PI-HS-13-01)

February 2013

• 2/4/13

• Press Release
  Head Start Launches Pilot Project to Encourage Innovation in Birth-to-5 Education

January 2013

• 1/24/13

• Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines
  2013 HHS Poverty Guidelines

• 1/17/13

• Press Release
  Head Start Continues Program Quality Reforms with Second Group of Competitions

November 2012

• 11/30/12

• Information Memorandum
  E-Rate Discount Options (ACF-IM-HS-12-09)

  Memorándum de Información
  Opciones de descuento del programa E-rate (ACF-IM-HS-12-09)

  Information Memorandum
  Disposition of Older Modular Units (ACF-IM-HS-12-08)

  Memorándum de Información
  Cómo deshacerse de unidades modulares viejas (ACF-IM-HS-12-08)

• 11/06/12

• Information Memorandum
  Supporting Children and Families after Hurricane Sandy (ACF-IM-HS-12-07)

  Memorándum de Información
  Apoyo a los niños y las familias tras el huracán Sandy (ACF-IM-HS-12-07)

  Information Memorandum
  Hurricane Sandy (ACF-IM-HS-12-06)

  Memorándum de Información
  El huracán Sandy (ACF-IM-HS-12-06)

October 2012

• 10/05/12

• Program Instruction
  Non-Competitive 5-Year Grant Awards (ACF-PI-HS-12-03)

  Instrucción del Programa
  Adjudicación de subvenciones no competitivas de 5 años de duración (ACF-PI-HS-12-03)

June 2012

• 6/06/12

• Information Memorandum
  Head Start and Early Head Start Relationship-Based Competencies for Staff and Supervisors who Work With Families (ACF-IM-HS-12-05)

  Memorándum de Información
  Competencias, basadas en las relaciones, para el personal y los supervisores que trabajan con las familias de Head Start y Early Head Start (ACF-IM-HS-12-05)

May 2012

• 5/09/12

• Information Memorandum
  Head Start, Child Care, and Public Libraries: Partnerships
  to Support Young Children and Their Families (ACF-IM-HS-12-04)

  Memorándum de Información
  Head Start, Cuidado infantil y bibliotecas públicas: Asociaciones para apoyar a los niños pequeños y a sus familias (ACF-IM-HS-12-04)

April 2012

• 4/24/12

• Information Memorandum
  Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) New Crib Standards (ACF-IM-HS-12-03)

  Memorándum de Información
  Nuevos estándares para la seguridad de las cunas de la Comisión para la Seguridad de Productos para el Consumidor (CPSC) (ACF-IM-HS-12-03)

•  

• 4/19/12

• Head Start Funding Opportunities Now Available
  HHS releases funding opportunities for 97 Head Start service areas

March 2012

• 3/29/12

• Information Memorandum
  SF-428 Tangible Personal Property Report, SF-429 Real Property Status Report (ACF-IM-HS-12-02)

  Memorándum de Información
  Informe de propiedad personal tangible SF-428; Informe del estado de propiedad real SF-429 (ACF-IM-HS-12-02)

•  

• 3/28/12

• Designation Renewal System
  Frequently Asked Questions

February 2012

• 2/10/12

• Program Instruction
  Non-Federal Share Issues (ACF-PI-HS-12-02)

  Information Memorandum

  Choosing an External Auditor (ACF-IM-HS-12-01)

•  

• 2/01/12

• Instrucción del Programa
  Aumento de los fondos de Head Start para el AF 2012 (ACF-PI-HS-12-01)

January 2012

• 1/26/12

• Program Instruction
  FY 2012 Head Start Funding Increase (ACF-PI-HS-12-01)

• 1/06/12

• Notice of Upcoming HS and EHS Grant Opportunities[PDF, 561KB]

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS) has forecasted its upcoming Early Head Start and Head Start grant opportunities at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/hhsgrantsforecast/. The publication of this announcement is in response to the statutory provisions of the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 to establish a system of designation renewal. Each Forecast record contains:

  • Communities receiving Head Start and/or Early Head Start services
  • Available Federal funds
  • Expected number of awards (represents an estimated range of awards)

  When OHS is ready to accept applications, an official notice known as a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will be made available on www.grants.gov, under CFDA 93.600. OHS expects to begin publishing Funding Opportunity Announcements in early 2012. Dates included in Forecast records are subject to change.

  For additional information, please email DRS@headstartinfo.org.

December 2011

• 12/20/11

• Grantees Required to Compete for Continued Funding
  Pursuant to 45 C.F.R. § 1307, "Policies and Procedures for Designation Renewal of Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees", these grantees, organized by state, were notified in December 2011 [PDF, 107KB].

•  

• 12/19/11

• Press Release — ACF News
  HHS continues Head Start quality push, notifies grantees selected to compete for continued funding

•  

• 12/16/11

• Press Release — whitehouse.gov
  We Can't Wait: Nine States Awarded Race To The Top-Early Learning Challenge Grants

November

• 11/9/11

• New Regulations to Improve Quality and Promote Accountability
  PART 1307-Policies and Procedures for Designation Renewal of Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees

  President Obama's presentation while visiting
  Yeadon Regional Head Start Center in Yeadon, Pennsylvania
•  

• 11/8/11

• White House Press Release
  President Obama Takes Action to Improve Quality and Promote Accountability in Head Start Programs

  White House Blog
  Secretary Kathleen Sebelius: Our Children Can't Wait: New Regulations Increase Accountability and Boost Quality in Head Start

  Program Instruction
  School Readiness in Programs Serving Preschool Children (ACF-PI-HS-11-04)

October 2011

• 10/3/11

• HHS Secretary Kathleen Sibelius addresses 1st National Leadership Institute
  Read her full remarks as prepared for delivery [PDF 27KB]

  Head Start Awareness Month, by Yvette Sanchez Fuentes
  Blog posting on www.whitehouse.gov

September 2011

• 9/26/11

• Information Memorandum
  Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework (ACF-IM-HS-11-06)

  Press Release from ACF
  Office of Head Start Announces National Parent, Family Engagement Week
  Releases Head Start Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework

• 9/21/11

• Information Memorandum
  Early Childhood Education, Financial Stability, and Asset Building Strategies for Families with Young Children (ACF-IM-HS-11-05)

•  

• 9/14/11

• Press Release
  ACF awards grant to American Academy of Pediatrics to run new Head Start National Center on Health

•  

• 9/9/11

• Information Memorandum
  Center-based Preschool Classroom Teacher Qualification Waiver Authority and Procedures
  (ACF-IM-HS-11-04)

•  

• 9/9/11

• Information Memorandum
  Statutory Degree and Credentialing Requirements (ACF-IM-HS-11-03)

August 2011

• 8/3/11

• Information Memorandum
  Physical Health and Development (ACF-IM-HS-11-02)

July 2011

• 7/20/11

• Program Instruction
  Participation in Your State's Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Plan (ACF-PI-HS-11-03)

June 2011

• 6/17/11

• Information Memorandum
  Head Start's Father's Day Communication in Support of Responsible Fatherhood (ACF-IM-HS-11-01)

•  

• 6/09/11

• Office of Child Care and the Office of Head Start Collaboration Webcast
  Directors announce two new initiatives: Learning Labs & Early Head Start for Family Child Care

  Read the transcript [PDF 23KB]

May 2011

• 5/25/11

• OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES $500 MILLION FOR RACE TO THE TOP-EARLY LEARNING CHALLENGE
  New State Competition to Establish and Expand High Quality Early Learning Programs

  U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced a new $500 million state-level grant competition, the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge. Joining Duncan and Sebelius at the announcement were business, law enforcement and military leaders who have advocated for increased investments in early learning to reduce crime, strengthen national security, and boost U.S. competitiveness.

  "For kids, high quality early learning programs mean they will enter school better prepared with a greater chance of finishing high school and college," said Vice President Joe Biden, Chairman of the Administration's Middle Class Task Force. "Expanding access to such early education and child care programs will also make it easier for working parents to hold down a job - a key priority of the Middle Class Task Force - giving them peace of mind that their children are in a high quality learning environment while they are at work."

  "To win the future, our children need a strong start," said Secretary Duncan. "The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge encourages states to develop bold and comprehensive plans for raising the quality of early learning programs across America."

  "This Challenge represents the Obama Administration's commitment to helping vulnerable children and families reach their full potential," said Secretary Sebelius. "Our collective health and financial security as a nation will depend on high quality investments during the critical early years of a child's life."

  The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge will reward states that create comprehensive plans to transform early learning systems with better coordination, clearer learning standards, and meaningful workforce development. Secretary Duncan and Secretary Sebelius also challenged the broader innovation community - leading researchers, high-tech entrepreneurs, foundations, non-profits and others - to engage with the early learning community to close the school readiness gap.

  States applying for challenge grants will be encouraged to increase access to quality early learning programs for low income and disadvantaged children, design integrated and transparent systems that align their early care and education programs, bolster training and support for the early learning workforce, create robust evaluation systems to document and share effective practices and successful programs, and help parents make informed decisions about care for their children.

  Research shows that high-quality early learning programs lead to long-lasting positive outcomes for children, including increased rates of high school graduation, college attendance and college completion. Yet, just 40 percent 4-year olds in America are currently enrolled in preschool programs. The most recent report from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) indicates that, for the first time in a decade, states are reducing some of their key investments in early learning.

  The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grants will encourage states to make the best possible use of current federal and state investments in child care and early learning. The Obama Administration has sought and secured increased investments in Head Start and child care so that more families have access to quality, affordable care, while also pursuing important reforms such as requiring Head Start grantees to compete for continued funding. The administration has also steered resources towards evidence-based, cost-effective home visiting programs.

  In his remarks today, Duncan also thanked Congress for supporting Race to the Top saying, "We are deeply grateful to Congress for supporting these programs. Congress understands the value of investing in education reform, particularly early learning, even in these economic times."

  The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge will be administered jointly by the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. Starting today, the public may provide input, including data and relevant research, by visiting http://www.ed.gov/blog/2011/05/watch-live-duncan-and-sebelius-make-major-announcement-about-race-to-the-top-and-early-learning/. Guidance, eligibility, range of awards and number of grants will be announced in coming weeks. The application will be released later this summer with grants awarded to states no later than December 31, 2011.

April 2011

• 4/25/11

• Conference Call Regarding the FY2011 Budget

  Download [MP3 3.1MB]

  Read the Transcript [PDF, 201KB]

  Presenter's Notes and Selected Q&A [PDF, 36KB]

•  

• 4/21/11

• Program Instruction
  Fiscal Year 2011 Head Start Funding Guidance (ACF-PI-HS-11-02)

•  

• 4/19/11

• Program Instruction
  SF-425 Federal Financial Report Form Replaces SF-269 (ACF-PI-HS-11-01)

•  

• 4/12/11

• Office of Head Start 1st National Birth to Five Leadership Institute
  The Office of Head Start 1^st National Birth to Five Leadership Institute will provide opportunities for leadership development through the promotion of effective strategies for achieving school readiness and continuous program improvement. While all Head Start staff have a leadership role to play in achieving positive outcomes for children, families, and communities, this Institute is designed for staff and parent leaders. Programs are encouraged to select a team of leaders who, after the Institute, will be prepared to lead the way for 2011 and beyond. Early Bird Registration now open!

March 2011

• 3/29/11

• Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Head Start Graduate Student Research Grants
  The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) plans to provide funds for Graduate Student Research Grants to support dissertation research by advanced graduate students who are working in partnership with Head Start programs and with faculty mentors. Competitive applicants will 1) demonstrate a collaborative partnership with their program partners and 2) pursue research questions that directly inform local, state or federal policy relevant to multiple early care and education contexts. Applicants should consider pursuing data collection across contexts, including child care, pre-k, home-visiting programs, Head Starts and/or others. Funding for this announcement is based on availability.

•  

• 3/18/11

• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Eligibility
  Federal Register notice of proposed rule to codify statutory eligibility requirements for Head Start and Early Head Start program enrollment.

•  

• 3/18/11

• OHS Summit PowerPoints Now Available
  The OHS Summit: On the Road to School Readiness provided information, tools, and strategies to promote program quality and positive child outcomes.

January 2011

• 1/21/11

• The 2011 HHS Poverty Guidelines Announced
  The poverty guidelines are the other version of the federal poverty measure. They are issued each year in the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

•  

• 1/19/11

• A Message from Acting Assistant Secretary David Hansell on the Passing of Sargent Shriver.
  Earlier this week America lost Sargent Shriver, an extraordinary champion of our country's most vulnerable children and families.

  He is perhaps best remembered as the person President Johnson chose in February of 1964 to lead the War on Poverty as Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity. Mr. Shriver developed a multi-faceted campaign designed not only to address problems of economic hardship, but also to bolster the efforts of those struggling to assure civil rights for all Americans. It would become one of the most important initiatives of the Johnson Administration and led to the creation of programs such as Head Start, now a part of ACF.

  At the time, Mr. Shriver laid out a philosophy remarkably similar to our mission today. "The War on Poverty," he said, "is a means of making life available for any and all pursuers. It does not try to make men good -- because that is moralizing. It does not try to give men what they want -- because that is catering. It does not try to give men false hopes -- because that is deception. Instead, the War on Poverty tries only to create the conditions by which the good life can be lived -- and that is humanism."

  Sargent Shriver's dedication and commitment ensured that millions of disadvantaged children and their families had an equal opportunity to succeed. The Administration for Children and Families continues to live Sargent Shriver's vision daily as we work to promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals and communities across the country.

  Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family as we continue to implement his vision of an America where all can prosper.