Every other year, the Universal Services Administrative Company (USAC) sends a letter to each state department of education asking for verification of the information currently on file with USAC. This year, USAC included questions on Head Start in its communication to the states. The results can be found on their web site in an Eligibility Table for Non-traditional K-12 Students and Facilities that provides eligibility determinations for pre-kindergarten, juvenile justice, and adult education students and facilities on a state-by-state basis. USAC has added an additional column on the left-hand side of this table and updated the guidance on Non-traditional Elementary and Secondary Education to provide eligibility information on Head Start students and facilities.

A Head Start facility must meet two tests in order to be considered eligible for discounts:

• The Head Start facility must meet the statutory definition of elementary school under federal and state law.
• The state in which the Head Start facility is located must consider the facility to be a school.

Home-based Head Start programs are not eligible for discounts under any circumstances.

The eligibility table contains a number of comments to clearly define the eligibility of Head Start students and facilities in each state. Note that, while services to students less than three years old are not eligible for discounts, some states set higher age limits. As a result, Head Start facilities will be asked during Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) review to cost allocate services provided to ineligible students.

Below is a list of the comments in the eligibility table that may need additional explanation:

• Not yet confirmed. USAC has asked for information from the state department of education or for a confirmation of information already provided. Either the department has not yet responded or USAC needs some additional information and will be contacting the department in the near future. 
• Yes, if part of a public school district ... Head Start programs that are run from public schools can apply as part of the school's application or they can apply on their own. During PIA review, USAC may ask for the name of the Head Start program's public school district or request additional information.
• Yes, if ... a stand-alone facility recognized by the state. Click on the link to view a list of Head Start facilities that are eligible in the state. If a facility is not on the list, USAC requires a confirmation from the state that that facility is eligible, or the facility will be removed from the funding request and the dollars requested will be modified appropriately.
• Yes, if ... a stand-alone facility recognized by the state. You must contact your state department of education to find out if a particular facility is considered eligible by the state. However, USAC will require verification that a facility is eligible, or the funding request will be modified appropriately.

If you believe that a facility in your state is eligible and it does not appear in a list on  the USAC website, you should contact your state department of education to get more information. Also, if the Eligibility Table indicates that USAC has not heard back from your state, you can encourage your state department of education to respond to USAC's questions.