On August 27, 2020 the Office of Head Start (OHS) announced in the Federal Register a final rule updating the Designation Renewal System (DRS). In the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, Congress required the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to both establish a DRS and to periodically review the system. HHS first established the DRS through a final rule in 2011, and has been regularly analyzing data on the implementation of the system and on the grantees required to compete. OHS is confident the DRS has driven increases in the quality of Head Start and Early Head Start services, but believes improvements can be made to the system.

This final rule includes revisions to three of the seven conditions of the DRS: the deficiency condition, the condition related to the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®), and the fiscal condition related to audit findings. These changes will ensure OHS identifies those grantees where competition is the most warranted and more effectively holds grantees accountable, while also making the DRS more transparent.

The link to the webpage is:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/08/28/2020-17746/head-start-designation-renewal-system

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J. Christopher Watkins, Executive Director
Training & Technical Assistance Services (T/TAS)
Western Kentucky University

800.882.7482
www.ttas.org
ttas.info@wku.edu
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