[Federal Register: April 30, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 83)]
[Notices][Page 23467]
[DOCID:fr30ap97-87]

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Proposed Projects Title: 45 CFR Parts 1301, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, and 1308. Head Start Program Performance Standards' Recordkeeping Requirements. OMB No.: New Request. Description: The Head Start Program Performance Standards provide a standard and definition of quality services and provide a regulatory structure for the monitoring and enforcement of quality standards for Head Start grantees and delegate agencies. The Head Start Bureau published these standards as a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on April 22, 1996.

Following consideration of the public comments addressing the NPRM and after publication of the Final Rule, the Bureau plans to issue a Program Instruction to Head Start grantees and delegate agencies. The Program Instruction will outline the record-keeping requirements expected of the 2,112 Head Start grantees and delegate agencies which serve 751,000 children and their families as they implement the Program Performance Standards in their local programs. Please refer to the full text of the proposed program instruction below.

The records that must be maintained by grantees and delegate agencies include: (1) Child and family records such as emergency contact information; (2) child records such as attendance records; (3) family records such as family conference documentation; and (4) program records such as staff personnel files. These records must be kept in order to administer quality programs in an organized manner, provide evidence of compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, and meet State and local law requirements.

Respondents: Head Start grantees and delegate agencies.

In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c) (2) (A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the information collection aspects of the record-keeping requirements for the Head Start Program Performance Standards. Copies of the proposed Program Instruction will be mailed to all grantees and delegate agencies at the time of publication of this Notice. Anyone else can obtain copies and forward comments on the Program Instruction by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Information Services, Division of Information Resource Management Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All requests should be identified by title of this information collection.

In addition, requests for copies may be made and comments forwarded to the Reports Clearance Officer over the Internet by sending message to lguerrero@acf.dhhs.gov. Internet messages must be submitted as an ASCII file without special characters or encryption.

The Department specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication.

Dated: April 24, 1997.
Bob Sargis,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-11115 Filed 4-29-97; 8:45 am]
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