Designation Renewal

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) established the Designation Renewal System through regulation that became effective on December 9, 2011. This regulation specifies seven conditions that HHS will consider when determining whether a grantee is delivering a high-quality and comprehensive program and, thus, whether the grantee may be renewed without having to compete for continued funding. In particular, if a grantee is found to meet any of those seven conditions during the time periods specified in the regulation, then that grantee will be required to compete for continued funding. For more detailed information, see Section 641(c)(1) of the Head Start Act and the regulation, which is codified at 45 C.F.R. 1307.

• 05/16/12

  Birth-to-Five Funding Opportunity Announcement Pilot

  The Office of Head Start will be piloting a Birth-to-Five Funding Opportunity Announcement in five service areas where Head Start and Early Head Start funds are slated to be awarded through a competitive process. Potential applicants may submit a single application for a comprehensive birth-to-five program, or may apply for a Head Start-only or Early Head Start-only grant, based on the needs in the community.

   

• 4/19/12

  Head Start Funding Opportunities Now Available

  Today, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of Head Start funding in 97 Head Start service areas across the country. The funding opportunities announced today are open to all eligible organizations, and applicants have 90 days to submit their grant proposals online through www.Grants.gov.

  Director Sanchez Fuentes Explains Competitive Process for the Designation Renewal System
   

  000710-DRS-Yvette Sanchez Fuentes-2012

  Read the transcript [PDF, 67KB] |  Right click to download the video [MP4, 33MB]

   

• 03/28/12

  Designation Renewal System Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  These Frequently Asked Questions provide information about the implementation phase of the Designation Renewal System.

   

• 01/30/12

  Grant Reviewers Application Information

  The Office of Head Start is seeking qualified, non-federal reviewers to evaluate applications for Head Start and Early Head Start programs, with experience in early childhood or related fields, as well as reviewers with expertise in fiscal and organizational operations.

   

• 01/06/12

  HHS Grants Forecast

  The Department of Health and Human Services' Grants Forecast website is a database of planned grant opportunities proposed by its agencies. Enter “Head Start” in the search box to find the upcoming Head Start-related opportunities.

   

• 12/20/11

  Grantees Required to Compete for Continued Funding

  The list of grantees [PDF, 107KB] that have met a condition in Head Start Performance Standard 1307, and have been notified that they will be subject to an open competition within the next year for continued Federal funding.

   

• 12/19/11

  HHS continues Head Start quality push, notifies grantees selected to compete for continued funding

  The press release announcing that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notified 132 Head Start grantees that they have been designated to compete for continued Head Start funding.

   

• 11/09/11

  Federal Register: Final Rule for Designation Renewal of Head Start Grantees

  The official notice and text of the final rule amending the Head Start Program regulations to implement statutory provisions of the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007. This regulation establishes a system of designation renewal to determine if grantees are delivering high-quality and comprehensive Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The new regulation is added to 45 CFR Chapter XIII PART 1307 - Policies and Procedures for Designation Renewal of Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees or [PDF, 224KB].

   

• 11/08/11

  We Can't Wait: President Obama Takes Action to Improve Quality and Promote Accountability in Head Start Programs

  The White House press release, in which the President announces new rules that will – for the first time – require all low-performing Head Start grantees that fail to meet a new set of rigorous benchmarks to compete for continued federal funding.

   

• 09/22/10

  Federal Register: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) Designation Renewal of Head Start Grantees

  The official notice of the proposed rule amending the Head Start Program regulations to implement statutory provisions of the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 to create a system of designation renewal to determine if grantees are delivering high-quality and comprehensive Head Start and Early Head Start programs and invite public comment on the proposal. OHS also issued a report to Congress on the NPRM as required in the Head Start Act.

   

• 09/21/10

  HHS Announces National Effort to Reshape and Raise Quality in Head Start Programs

  The press release announcing the proposed regulations for implementing a system of designation renewal, to implement statutory provisions of the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007.

  Enhancing Program Integrity

  The webcast by OHS Director Yvette Sanchez Fuentes describes Head Start reform efforts, including new proposed regulations for “recompetition,” and support structures to bolster program effectiveness and program integrity.

   

• 12/2008

  A System of Designation Renewal of Head Start Grantees: Report of the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Re-designation of Head Start Grantees

  The findings and recommendations of the expert panel, required by the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 to make recommendations to the Secretary on a system of designation renewal.