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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 9, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70010-70032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28880]

[[Page 70009]]

Vol. 76

Wednesday,

No. 217

November 9, 2011

Part VII

Department of Health and Human Services

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 Administration for Children and Families

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45 CFR Part 1307

 Head Start Program; Final Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 76 , No. 217 / Wednesday, November 9, 2011 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 70010]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

45 CFR Part 1307

RIN 0970-AC44

Head Start Program

AGENCY: Office of Head Start (OHS), Administration for Children and 
Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule amends the Head Start Program regulations to 
implement statutory provisions of the Improving Head Start for School 
Readiness Act of 2007 to establish a system of designation renewal to 
determine if Head Start and Early Head Start agencies are delivering 
high-quality and comprehensive Head Start and Early Head Start programs 
that meet the educational, health, nutritional, and social needs of the 
children and families they serve and meet program and financial 
management requirements and standards. This system of designation 
renewal will determine which grantees must compete for on-going 
funding. This final rule is consistent with Executive Order 13563 and 
in particular its requirement, in section 6, of ``periodic review of 
existing significant regulations.''

DATES: This regulation is effective on December 9, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colleen Rathgeb, Office of Head Start, 
(202) 205-7378 (not a toll-free call). Deaf and hearing impaired 
individuals may call the Federal Dual Party Relay Service at 1-(800) 
877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern time.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Statutory Authority

    This final rule is published under the authority granted to the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services by sections 641, 645A(b)(12), 
645A(d) and 644(c) of the Head Start Act (the Act) (42 U.S.C. 9801 et 
seq.), as amended by the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act 
of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-134).

II. Background

    The Head Start program is a national program administered by the 
Office of Head Start (OHS), Administration for Children and Families 
(ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which promotes 
school readiness of children from low-income families by enhancing 
their cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development through 
the provisions of health, educational, nutritional, social, and other 
services determined necessary based on family needs assessments.
    The Head Start program provides grants to local public and private 
non-profit and for-profit agencies to provide comprehensive child 
development services to economically disadvantaged children and 
families, with a special focus on helping preschoolers develop the 
necessary skills for school success. The Early Head Start program 
established in FY 1995 serves families of economically disadvantaged 
children from birth to three years of age and pregnant women from such 
families based on the mounting evidence that indicate the great 
importance of the early years of a child's growth and development.
    On December 12, 2007, the Improving Head Start for School Readiness 
Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-134) amended the Head Start Act (the Act) 
to direct HHS to recompete certain Head Start grants. The Head Start 
Act, as amended, establishes that Head Start grantees will be awarded 
grants for a five-year period and only grantees delivering high-quality 
services will be given additional five-year grants non-competitively. 
Section 641 of the Act requires the Secretary of HHS to develop and 
implement a system for designation renewal (e.g., Designation Renewal 
System (DRS)) to determine if a Head Start agency is delivering a high-
quality and comprehensive Head Start program that meets the 
educational, health, nutritional, and social needs of the children and 
families it serves. This regulation defines, for purposes of the 
Designation Renewal System, what comprises delivering a high quality 
comprehensive Head Start program--if a program does not meet any of the 
seven conditions, they are de facto a high quality program for purposes 
of the Designation Renewal System.
    Section 641(c)(1) of the Act requires that the DRS be developed to 
determine whether a grantee is providing high-quality services and 
meets the program and financial management requirements and standards 
described in section 641A(a)(1) of the Act, based on:
    (A) Annual budget and fiscal management data;
    (B) Program review conducted under section 641A(c);
    (C) Annual audits required under section 647;
    (D) Classroom quality as measured under section 641A(c)(2)(F); and
    (E) Program Information Reports.
    The Act also requires that the system is fair, consistent and 
transparent and that the Secretary periodically evaluate whether the 
criteria of the system are being applied in a manner that is 
transparent, reliable and valid.
    This final rule responds to those requirements and was developed 
after consideration of public comments received in response to the 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) issued September 22, 2010, in the 
Federal Register [75 FR 57704]. This final rule is also consistent with 
Executive Order 13563, section 6, which calls for ``periodic review of 
existing significant regulations,'' and which directs agencies to 
engage in ``retrospective analysis of rules'' in order to improve them 
``in accordance with what has been learned.'' In brief, the NPRM 
proposed seven conditions that would signal that a Head Start or Early 
Head Start agency was not delivering high-quality and comprehensive 
services and ``trigger'' the grant for competition. The conditions in 
the NPRM were: one or more deficiencies under section 641A(c)(1)(A), 
(C), or (D) of the Act; failure to establish school readiness goals; 
failure to meet minimum thresholds on CLASS: Pre-K domains; revocation 
of a license to operate a center or program; suspension from the 
program; debarment from receiving Federal or State funds or 
disqualified from the Child and Adult Care Food Program; or, one or 
more material weaknesses or at risk for failing to function as a going 
concern. The NPRM also proposed adding an eighth criterion to ensure 
that a minimum threshold of 25 percent of grants would be subject to 
competition.
    Head Start is the largest federal investment in early childhood 
education, serving nearly one million of our nation's most vulnerable 
young children and their families. It is the federal government's 
responsibility to make sure that these children and families get the 
highest quality services possible. This final rule makes structural 
changes in Head Start that will drive significant improvements in 
program quality. Specifically, for the first time in the history of 
Head Start, individual grantees whose programs fall short of certain 
standards will be required to compete with other organizations to 
continue receiving funding. Funds will be awarded to the organization 
that can best meet the needs of Head Start children and families.

[[Page 70011]]

III. Summary Description of Regulatory Provisions

    The following is a summary of the most significant regulatory 
changes included in this final rule resulting from public comment. The 
Section-by-Section Discussion of the Regulations (Section IV) provides 
a detailed listing of the comments and responses. We considered each 
comment and where appropriate made amendments in this final rule. 
Specifically, changes include:
    In Sec.  1307.3 of the NPRM, ACF proposed that a minimum of 25 
percent of grantees reviewed in each cycle would be required to compete 
and proposed adding an eighth condition to achieve this. In response to 
comments, this threshold is replaced in the final rule. The final rule 
retains the seven criteria for recompetition in section 1307.3 with 
some modification, and adds a second sub-part to the CLASS: PreK 
condition, but does not add an eighth criterion. Most significantly, 
with respect to the third criterion at Sec.  1307.3(c), the final rule 
provides that, in addition to grantees that will be required to compete 
based on CLASS: Pre-K scores below minimum quality thresholds, those 
grantees reviewed by ACF in the same year that score in the lowest 
decile in any of the three domains of the Classroom Assessment Scoring 
System: Pre-K (CLASS: Pre-K) will also be required to compete. Taken 
together, these changes ensure rigorous competition in the Head Start 
program and provide an approach that is transparent and based on the 
most valid and reliable indicators of performance currently available 
to ACF. Current data from Head Start monitoring and CLASS reviews 
suggest that roughly a third of grantees would have been designated for 
competition based on the revised criteria. While there are limitations 
on the precision of estimates with current data, it is clear that this 
approach will hold grantees to high standards and lead to rigorous 
competition.
    As discussed in the Section-by-Section Discussion that follows, in 
response to comments this final rule also revises definitions included 
in the NPRM; modifies the timeframe for the school readiness criteria; 
and modifies reporting requirements.

IV. Section-by-Section Discussion of Comments and Regulatory Provisions

    This section provides a detailed discussion of the comments 
received on the proposed rule and describes changes made to the 
proposed rule. We received approximately 16,000 comments on the NPRM 
from Head Start grantees, parents, teachers and State associations; 
national organizations; and some academic institutions and legal 
entities. Most comments focused on: the proposed 25 percent minimum 
requirement for recompetition; retrospective review criteria; proposed 
conditions related to licensing, deficiencies, and audits; and, the 
proposed timing and method for using CLASS: Pre-K. Many respondents 
submitted comments in support of competition, stating that requiring 
grantees to compete would ensure that Head Start and Early Head Start 
children across the country receive high-quality services and that 
dollars invested are spent well.

General Comments

    Comments not attributable to specific sections of the regulation 
are discussed below.
Concerns Over Competition
    1. Comment: Many respondents endorsed the principle that grantees 
not conducting high quality programs should be required to compete for 
further funding. However, others opposed competition among Head Start 
and Early Head Start grantees for a variety of reasons, including costs 
vs. benefits; hardship and stress for staff resulting from the loss of 
jobs and loss or disruption of employee benefits; disruption of 
services; and the possibility that grantees required to compete will be 
stigmatized. Some commenters stated that to avoid potential stigma it 
would be better to compete all programs. Additionally, commenters 
expressed concerns that recompetition could be a disincentive for 
organizations to collaborate with Head Start because of the potential 
instability of the funding.
    Response: We appreciate the concerns expressed by commenters and 
the suggestions provided (discussed more specifically later in this 
section) to utilize alternative means of holding grantees accountable. 
However, the 2007 reauthorization of the Head Start Act required the 
establishment of five-year grants and a Designation Renewal System by 
which grantees would compete for renewed funding if they were not 
determined to be providing high quality services. We can assure 
commenters that we intend to make every effort to ensure continuity of 
services to children and families, although we acknowledge that it is 
possible that some short-term disruption of services might occur if and 
when service providers change.
    We think it is important to note that requiring a Head Start or 
Early Head Start grantee to compete for continued funding is not the 
same as taking a grant away or defunding a grantee. Requiring a grantee 
to compete means that if a grantee wants to continue to provide Head 
Start or Early Head Start services to the community, it must apply, 
along with any other entities that choose to do so, for on-going 
funding and demonstrate that it is the most capable entity to do so.
Use of Retroactive Data
    2. Comment: We received many comments regarding the provision that 
most of the DRS conditions would be based on data regarding grantee 
performance starting on June 12, 2009. Commenters claimed that by 
considering pre-regulation events, ACF was imposing the DRS 
retroactively and in a manner inconsistent with Congressional intent, 
that ACF's delay in proposing the regulation should disqualify ACF from 
imposing retroactive requirements, and that the statute did not require 
ACF to consider events between June 12, 2009, and the effective date of 
the regulation. Some commenters objected to the consideration of 
performance beginning on June 12, 2009 for only certain conditions, 
such as the establishment of school readiness goals.
    Response: In the NPRM we proposed, with one exception, application 
of data collected starting on June 12, 2009, because that is the date 
specified in the Act before which the system for designation renewal 
cannot apply. We have maintained in the final rule that data collected 
beginning on June 12, 2009, may be considered for all of the 
conditions, with the exception of the condition related to school 
readiness goals, as discussed later in this preamble, and the CLASS: 
Pre-K condition that we already proposed in the NPRM to apply after the 
effective date of the rule. The five conditions for which data 
collected prior to the effective date of the regulation will be 
considered are based on Head Start requirements that pre-date this 
regulation, and were known to grantees as requirements for which they 
would be held accountable.
    Failure to comply with these requirements, even before this 
regulation was effective, could lead to adverse consequences, such as 
termination or suspension. Specifically with respect to licensing, 
Section 641A(a)(D)(i) requires that ``facilities used by Head Start 
agencies for regularly scheduled * * * classroom activities shall meet 
or exceed State and local requirements concerning licensing for such 
facilities.'' These requirements to meet state and local licensing

[[Page 70012]]

standards are echoed in Head Start regulations 1306.30(c). Clearly the 
revocation of a license to operate--a licensing entity actually 
shutting down a center--is clear and direct evidence that a program is 
not meeting or exceeding state and local licensing requirements. With 
respect to disqualification from USDA to participate in the CACFP, Head 
Start regulations at 1304.23(b)(i) require that all programs ``must use 
funds from the USDA Food and Consumer Services Child Nutrition Programs 
as the primary source of payment for meal services.'' A program 
disqualified from CACFP would be unable to comply with this long 
standing requirement. With respect to audit findings potentially 
jeopardizing a Head Start grant pre-dating this regulation, the Act and 
existing Head Start regulations at Sec.  1301.12 require an annual 
audit of all programs to ensure that statements are accurate, that they 
are complying with the terms and conditions of the grant and that 
financial and administrative procedures and controls have been 
installed and are operating effectively. On the ``one deficiency'' 
condition, the concept of a ``deficiency'' and the process for 
correcting a deficiency have been part of the Head Start Act (section 
641A(e)) and the Head Start Performance Standards (45 CFR 1304.60) for 
many years. Deficiency was defined in Section 637 of the Act and a 
process for identifying and correcting deficiencies clarified and 
revised in Section 641A. Therefore, grantees reasonably had notice that 
a deficiency finding was important and could jeopardize their grant. 
Grantees also had notice before the adoption of the Designation Renewal 
System regulation that both debarment and suspension were evidence of 
programming that was not high quality because debarment is defined in 
section 637(2) of the Head Start Act as a deficiency and suspension was 
associated with violations of Head Start requirements under 45 CFR 
1303.10(a). In addition, the Federal Uniform Administrative 
Requirements at 45 CFR 74.13 clearly states that ``Federal agencies 
shall not award assistance to applicants that are debarred or 
suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation 
in Federal assistance programs under Executive Order 12549.''
    We also believe that the Act gave grantees clear and sufficient 
notification of the potential consequences of failing to deliver a high 
quality and comprehensive Head Start program and that their performance 
beginning on June 12, 2009, could be considered under the DRS to 
determine whether a grantee must recompete for a five-year grant. We 
believe that not considering important performance data as soon as 
allowable by the Act would delay this important mechanism for ensuring 
grantee accountability and could result in re-awarding grants non-
competitively to entities that are not the best equipped to provide 
high-quality services in that community.
Designation Renewal System Final Decision
    3. Comment: A number of commenters also expressed concern that the 
decision that a grantee must compete for renewal of funding would be 
final and suggested that grantees should have the ability to appeal the 
determination. Other commenters suggested that each condition should be 
appealable or correctable. Other comments stated that the requirement 
to compete could injure grantee's reputation which could result in a 
loss of funding from other sources and therefore due process rights 
should be afforded. (Condition-specific comments are discussed more in 
the Section-by-Section Discussion below.)
    Response: Congress did not require that grantees designated to 
compete for further funding be given an opportunity to appeal. Congress 
did require appeals for grantees that are terminated or suspended for 
more than 30 days and for delegate agencies that are terminated or who 
have their applications rejected. Because Congress did not require 
appeal rights for grantees required to compete for further funding, 
apparently Congress did not believe that the requirement that a grantee 
compete for further funding was on a par with termination or other 
actions for which Congress did require appeals.
    Additionally, all eligible entities that have not been terminated 
from providing Head Start or Early Head Start services in the preceding 
five years--including the grantees designated for competition--are able 
and encouraged to apply through that competition. Unlike a grant 
termination, a requirement to compete provides a mechanism for a 
current grantee to demonstrate its capacity to provide a high quality 
program while providing ACF the ability to shift funding to more 
capable entities if such entities exist in the community. Further, a 
grantee that competed and lost a competition would remain eligible for 
future competitions. Because of this the grantee that is required to 
compete for further funding is one whose level of compliance is 
sufficient to justify continuance in the Head Start program, provided 
that there is no other organization in the same community that 
establishes, via a competitive process that it is better able to 
provide a high quality and comprehensive program. Thus the decision to 
require competition cannot reasonably be expected to damage the 
grantee's reputation in such a way as to deprive it of funding from 
another source.
    In response to the suggestions for training and technical 
assistance for those grantees that meet one of the seven DRS 
conditions, we note that all grantees already receive training and 
technical assistance on a variety of related topics and grantees also 
may request special assistance as needed.
Large Grantees and Delegate Agencies
    4. Comment: A number of commenters raised concerns about 
designation renewal as it relates to supergrantees (e.g., grantees that 
serve over 5,000 children or administer grants that cover a large 
geographic region) or large grantees that have a great number of 
programs or agencies that provide Head Start services on behalf of the 
grantee. Concerns were raised that large grantees are more likely to be 
required to compete because they have more classrooms and provide 
services to a greater number of families. Several commented that ACF 
should limit competition to only the service area found to have met one 
of the seven conditions, rather than requiring the grantee to recompete 
for its entire service area. Concerns that the problems of a single 
delegate agency would cause an entire grantee to compete were raised by 
a number of respondents.
    Response: All grantees are responsible for ensuring that all 
children and families participating in the program receive high-quality 
services, regardless of how many children are served, where the 
children are served or by whom the children are directly served. 
Section 1304.51(i)(2), a longstanding regulation, requires grantees to 
establish and implement procedures for the on-going monitoring of their 
programs, regardless of the size or structure of that grantee. A 
grantee's failure to ensure high quality services are being provided to 
children that are served in any of their locations indicates that the 
grantee has failed to maintain a high-quality Head Start program 
through their on-going monitoring. Thus, we have made no changes in 
response to these comments.
    Specifically with respect to deficiencies identified through Head 
Start monitoring, a deficiency reflects a very serious program 
violation. In a large grantee a deficiency would not be

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cited for an isolated incident unless it is very severe or was not 
corrected when identified as a non-compliance. Since the statutory 
definition includes that a deficiency is a ``systemic or substantial 
material failure,'' it accounts for differences in the size of grantees 
in that an issue that might be material or systemic in a very small 
grantee may not meet the thresholds of material or systemic in a very 
large grantee. For example, ten child health records being incomplete 
in a program serving 20 children could indicate substantial material 
and systemic problems; however, ten child health records being 
incomplete in a program serving 10,000 children would not indicate 
substantial material and systemic problems.
Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs
    5. Comment: A number of comments mentioned that the NPRM was silent 
on Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) programs and questioned 
whether the rule applied to MSHS. Some thought that MSHS programs 
should be subject to competition under the same rules in place for non-
MSHS programs while others requested special considerations for MSHS 
programs because of the unique challenges MSHS programs face delivering 
services to children of migrant and seasonal farm workers.
    Some respondents expressed concern with the reliability and clarity 
of the seven conditions proposed in the NPRM for MSHS programs such as 
whether the CLASS: Pre-K conditions are culturally and linguistically 
appropriate for MSHS programs or other dual language learner children.
    Response: The statute is clear that the length of all grants 
awarded under the Act is five years and that all Head Start grants 
should be subject to the DRS to determine if they are required to 
compete for their grants. Congress did not include an exception for 
MSHS programs. As a result, this entire rule applies to MSHS programs 
and we have not established separate conditions or a different standard 
for any program type. However, under Sec.  1307.3(b)(2)(i), we allow 
programs operating less than 90 days, as many MSHS programs do, to 
aggregate and analyze their child-level assessment data at least two 
times within their operating program period, rather than at least three 
times per year as is required for other Head Start programs. ACF 
encourages programs facing difficulties with requirements where waivers 
are authorized under statute or current regulations to submit a request 
for a waiver.
Alternatives to the Proposed DRS
    6. Comment: Some commenters offered alternative methods to 
determine which grantees should be required to compete. For example, 
several recommended an external review process similar to that used to 
review hospitals and healthcare organizations by the Joint Commission 
on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Others 
recommended alternative systems such as (1) Alternate criteria and an 
alternate timeline over the five-year grant period, (2) using a tiered 
system to rate grantees, (3) considering additional information such as 
national accreditation and (4) randomly assigning some grantees to 
competition.
    Response: We appreciate the alternatives suggested by commenters. 
However, ACF does not believe that any of the systems proposed could be 
implemented in a fair, consistent and reliable manner within the 
parameters of the Act. We continue to believe the system for 
designation renewal proposed in the NPRM, with the adaptations made in 
this final rule, provides a fair, transparent and evidence-based 
approach for determining whether Head Start and Early Head Start 
agencies are delivering high-quality and comprehensive programs that 
meet the educational, health, nutritional, and social needs of the 
children and families they serve and meet program and financial 
management requirements and standards.

V. Section-by-Section Discussion of Comments and the Final Rule

Proposed Sec.  1307.1--Purpose and Scope

    1. Comment: Some commenters questioned the authority to apply the 
Designation Renewal System to Early Head Start grantees.
    Response: HHS has the authority to establish requirements for the 
scope and design of Early Head Start programs under section 645A(b)(12) 
of the Act and to establish requirements for the time, manner, and 
content of applications under section 645A(d) of the Act. ACF believes 
that requiring Early Head Start grantees that are not providing high-
quality, comprehensive services to compete for further funding is 
necessary to assure that all children receive high-quality services 
under the program.

Proposed Sec.  1307.2--Definitions

    1. Comment: A number of comments were received on definitions 
proposed in the NPRM. Commenters requested modification of the proposed 
definitions of ``agency'' and ``material weakness.'' Others requested 
that we add new definitions including: ``aggregate child assessment 
data,'' ``child-level assessment data,'' ``Migrant and Seasonal Head 
Start,'' ``redesignation assessment,'' and ``school readiness goals.''
    Response: Based on the comments received, we have added definitions 
of the following terms to the rule: ``aggregate child-level assessment 
data,'' ``child-level assessment data,'' and ``school readiness 
goals.'' For the reasons explained below, we also have removed the 
proposed terms: ``designated ACF official'' and ``material weakness.'' 
We also made a minor technical change to the definition of ``transition 
period'' to conform to other changes in the final rule.
    2. Comment: Commenters stated that the proposed definition of 
``agency'' is inconsistent with the definitions of ``Head Start 
agency'' in 45 CFR part 1301 and the definition of ``Head Start 
agency'' in the proposed regulation. Commenters stated that ACF should 
add the word ``local'' to the definition of ``agency'' to make it 
correct.
    Response: We have not modified this definition because the term 
``agency'' is being adopted in part 1307 to refer to both Head Start 
and Early Head Start grantees. Inserting the term ``local'' in the 
definition would make the term inapplicable to Early Head Start 
grantees. Under section 645A(d) of the Act, an organization does not 
have to qualify as a ``local'' organization in order to be funded under 
the Early Head Start program. The definition of ``agency'' in 45 CFR 
part 1301 was adopted in 1979, before establishment of the Early Head 
Start program in 1995. In future regulations, ACF will be proposing 
changes to that definition and several other provisions of Part 1301 
that are now obsolete.
    3. Comment: Commenters suggested that, for the sake of consistency, 
ACF use the term ``responsible HHS official,'' which is used in other 
Head Start regulations, instead of ``designated ACF official.''
    Response: As suggested, ACF has changed the term used throughout 
this final rule to ``responsible HHS official'' to be consistent with 
other regulations. As such, we also have deleted the definition of 
``designated ACF official'' proposed in the NPRM.
    4. Comment: Commenters suggested adopting the definition of 
``material weakness'' in the Government Accountability Office 
``Government Auditing Standards,'' in place of the definition proposed 
in the NPRM.

[[Page 70014]]

    Response: In the final rule, we are deleting the proposed 
definition of material weakness since, as discussed below, we are 
modifying Sec.  1307.3(g) to remove a finding of material weakness as a 
condition for recompetition, as had been proposed in the NPRM.
    5. Comment: Commenters also suggested that ``redesignation 
assessment'' be a defined term in the final regulation. Commenters 
expressed confusion about the process of the designation review or 
assessment.
    Response: We have modified Sec.  1307.7 to clarify what the 
designation review entails, i.e., that it is a review by ACF of grantee 
data to determine if one or more of the conditions specified under 
Sec.  1307.3 were met by the agency's program during the relevant time 
periods also described in that section.
    6. Comment: Commenters asked for a definition of ``school readiness 
goals'' as used under proposed Sec.  1307.3(b)(2).
    Response: We have added a definition to the rule to specify that 
``school readiness goals'' mean the expectations of children's status 
and progress across domains of learning and literacy development, 
cognition and general knowledge, approaches to learning, physical well-
being and motor development, and social and emotional development that 
will improve their readiness for kindergarten. This definition is 
consistent with guidance from the Office of Head Start, section 641A(g) 
of the Act, and draws from comments.
    7. Comment: Some commenters asked about what constituted ``child-
level assessment data'' as the term was used in proposed Sec.  
1307.3(b)(2). Specifically, commenters asked if the term includes only 
data gathered through direct standardized assessment of children.
    Response: The definition added in the final rule clarifies that 
``child-level assessment data'' means ``the data collected by an agency 
on an individual child from one or more valid and reliable assessments 
of a child's status and progress, including but not limited to direct 
assessment, structured observations, checklists, staff- or parent-
report measures, and portfolio records or work samples.'' This 
definition is intended to make it clear that we are not imposing a new 
requirement to use only direct standardized assessment data; rather, 
agencies may use any one of a number of different methods to gather 
child-level assessment data (including but not limited to the methods 
identified in the definition). This is consistent with long standing 
Head Start regulations at Sec.  1304.20(b), (d) and (e) on on-going 
assessment of children.
    8. Comment: Some commenters requested that ``aggregate child-level 
assessment data'' be defined to understand the term as it was used in 
proposed Sec.  1307.3(b)(2).
    Response: In response to comments, we have added a definition of 
``aggregate child-level assessment data'' to mean ``the data collected 
by an agency on the status and progress of the children it serves that 
have been combined to provide summary information about groups of 
children enrolled in specific classrooms, centers, home-based or other 
options, groups, or setting, or other groups of children such as dual 
language learners or to provide summary information by specific domains 
of development.'' This definition will help programs understand how to 
utilize this data to understand the status and progress of children in 
their program and implement appropriate program improvements. It is 
consistent with best practices in the early childhood education field.
    9. Comment: Some respondents requested that ACF include a 
definition of Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) and proposed the 
following definition: ``A MSHS agency is an entity of a local public or 
private not-for-profit organization, which is designed by ACF to 
operate programs that serve children from birth to compulsory school 
age.''
    Response: The term ``Migrant or Seasonal Head Start Program'' is 
defined in section 637(17) of the Act and therefore we do not have the 
authority to change the definition of this term through regulation.
    Proposed Sec.  1307.3--Basis for determining whether a Head Start 
agency will be subject to an open competition. (Note that proposed 
Sec.  1307.3(a) and (c) have been removed in the final rule. As a 
result, proposed Sec.  1307.3(b)(1) to (7) have been redesignated as 
final Sec.  1307.3(a) to (g).)

Proposed Sec.  1307.3(a)--Minimum of 25 Percent

    1. Comment: The vast majority of comments received on the NPRM 
pertained to the proposed criterion to ensure that a minimum of 25 
percent of grantees are required to compete each year. Respondents 
stated that the 25 percent requirement is arbitrary, capricious, and 
unfair. Many of these respondents claimed the minimum percent results 
in an unfair quota system. Some expressed concern that the quota itself 
rather than the quality of programs would drive decisions. Others 
stated that quotas in almost any setting generally are perceived as 
leading to unfair and inappropriate determinations and are inconsistent 
with the intent to identify individual low-performing grantees for 
competition. Respondents also stated that the approach is not 
transparent because it fails to articulate a specific standard of 
quality that programs can aim to meet. Some respondents stated that 
they may be inclined to support the 25 percent or some minimum percent 
if it was demonstrated using relevant data how this percent was 
derived.
    Other respondents expressed concern that the standards for running 
a successful program could change during the school year to meet the 25 
percent minimum. Commenters noted that Congress specifically required 
the development of a merit-based system, and that competing 25 percent 
of all grantees reviewed in a given year regardless of the quality of 
those programs does not meet the statutory requirement for a program-
by-program determination of whether ``a Head Start grantee is 
successfully delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start 
program.''
    The most frequently expressed consequence of the 25 percent minimum 
is that it could cause high-quality programs to be required to compete 
for continued funding.
    Other respondents requested more clarification on this provision. 
Specifically, a number said it is not clear from the NRPM whether the 
proposed 25 percent minimum is a national figure or whether it would be 
applied equally across all twelve Federal regions. Others offered 
alternatives to the minimum 25 percent provision. Some recommended ACF 
use standard, objective, absolute measures only. Others suggested that 
ACF establish a new review system that would recognize high quality and 
innovation and ``weed out'' the lowest performing programs.
    Respondents also offered suggestions if the 25 percent minimum 
remains in the final rule. Some asked that high performers be exempt 
from competition and that the remaining 25 percent of grantees be 
chosen by lottery. Others suggested creating a tiered system of 
quality, which would identify programs along a quality spectrum rather 
than drawing a single line between high- and low-quality programs. 
There were also a number of comments in favor of the 25 percent minimum 
noting it would ensure robust levels of competition and drive all 
programs to strive for excellence. A few commenters suggested a higher 
percentage requirement.
    Response: ACF carefully considered all the comments received and we 
have

[[Page 70015]]

replaced the 25 percent minimum provision in the final rule with a 
revised CLASS: Pre-K condition. The revised two-part condition will 
ensure robust competition and guard against potential score inflation, 
using this valid, evidence based classroom evaluation tool. As 
discussed further below, under the final rule, in addition to those 
programs that score below a minimum threshold, programs that score in 
the bottom ten percent in any of the three domains of classroom quality 
measured by CLASS: Pre-K will be required to compete for further 
funding. This will ensure that standards remain high, but that grantees 
are held to objective, meaningful standards. Furthermore, to respond to 
comments received that the 25 percent provision could result in high-
performing programs being required to compete, the CLASS-based criteria 
further stipulates that in the unlikely event that a program that 
scores in the bottom decile in a domain but whose score in the domain 
meets the ``standards of excellence'' will not be required to compete.
    Taken together, the revised CLASS-based criteria and the other six 
conditions meet the same goal of ensuring high standards and driving 
continuous quality improvement, which was specified in the NPRM. 
Namely, these criteria ensure robust competition and, based on 
currently available data, will result in roughly a third of all 
programs being designated for competition. Additionally these criteria 
are transparent and guard against potential score inflation while 
addressing legitimate concerns raised by commenters.

Proposed Sec.  1307.3(b)(1)--Deficiency (Note that proposed Sec.  
1307.3(b)(1) has been changed to Sec.  1307.3(a) in the final rule.)

    1. Comment: A significant number of comments received related to 
the proposed condition that an agency that has been determined by ACF 
to have one or more deficiencies on a single review conducted under 
section 641A(c)(1)(A), (C), or (D) of the Act would be required to 
compete. Some commenters shared support for the proposal, while other 
respondents stated that there is insufficient data on monitoring 
findings available to evaluate the merits of this condition.
    Many respondents stated that the definition of deficiency is 
unclear. A number of these respondents said ACF should publish a list 
of deficiencies on its Web site annually.
    Response: In response to concerns that there is insufficient data 
on monitoring findings available and suggestions that ACF should 
publish a list of deficiencies on an annual basis, we note that we 
publish an annual report that provides a description of the monitoring 
review process, a summary of findings of the monitoring reviews 
conducted in each fiscal year (including a list showing the number of 
noncompliances and deficiencies by Head Start requirement), the 
outcomes of follow-up actions on grantees with required corrective 
actions, and any recent steps taken regarding monitoring and program 
integrity. The annual report on Head Start monitoring can be found at 
the following link: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/.
    2. Comment: Other respondents noted that there are inconsistencies 
in the OHS monitoring review system and process for determining 
deficiencies. As a result, they believe the criteria for determining a 
deficiency finding is subjective and varies among on-site monitoring 
teams or the ACF official. ACF received nearly 5,000 comments related 
to monitoring reviews. A number of Tribes noted that many reviewers do 
not understand the concept of Tribal sovereignty.
    Response: ACF stands behind the integrity of the monitoring review 
process used for all Head Start and Early Head Start grantees. As 
required by the Act, OHS consistently reviews and revises its 
monitoring process and protocol. Each year, OHS makes some changes to 
its monitoring protocol and trains all reviewers on the changes. In 
order to ensure interrater reliability, OHS annually trains reviewers 
before the monitoring year begins. The determination that a finding 
constitutes a deficiency is not made on-site by monitoring review 
teams, but rather is made after OHS and ACF experts and senior staff 
conduct a deliberative and rigorous review of the evidence. The results 
of the monitoring process are tested when grantees that have been 
terminated based on a failure to correct deficiencies appeal their 
terminations. In the overwhelming majority of these appeals, ACF's 
judgment that a deficiency existed, and that the grantee had failed to 
correct the deficiency, have been upheld by the Departmental Appeals 
Board. These rulings have often been made without the necessity of 
conducting a hearing because the grantee has not challenged ACF's 
factual findings. When a program is cited for a deficiency, it is an 
indication of a significant failure to meet program requirements. We 
believe that when a program fails to meet these standards, it is 
entirely appropriate to require them to compete for funding to 
determine if children would be better served by a different entity.
    3. Comment: Other comments objected to the standard of one 
deficiency triggering competition. Some respondents stated that ACF has 
not articulated clearly its rationale for using a single deficiency 
condition.
    Response: As stated in the preamble to the NPRM, ACF firmly 
believes that a grantee determined to have one or more deficiencies in 
a single review has demonstrated that it does not meet the requirement 
of being a high-quality program. ACF believes it is a reasonable 
standard that programs identified as having a deficiency, which, in 
summary, is defined as a systemic or material failure to meet program 
performance standards, a systemic or material failure of the governing 
body of an agency to fully exercise its legal and fiduciary 
responsibilities, or an unresolved area of noncompliance, should be 
required to compete for funding to determine if they are the most 
capable entity to provide Head Start or Early Head Start services to 
that community. This condition also is grounded in the Secretary's 
Advisory Committee's recommendations related to ``Key Quality 
Indicators.'' It is important to note that as stated in the NPRM, ACF 
will consider data from triennial reviews, follow-up reviews, and other 
reviews--and not first-year reviews.
    It is ACF's position that grantees should have systems in place to 
avoid the types of failures that constitute deficiencies as defined in 
the Act, including the ability to resolve a noncompliance in the 
specified corrective action timeframe before it is considered a 
deficiency.
    4. Comment: Some respondents stated that different deficiencies do 
not represent problems of equal severity; some are more serious or 
systemic issues than others. These respondents argued that establishing 
a specific number of deficiencies to trigger competition is 
inappropriate because of differences in the severity of problems 
identified as deficiencies. Some respondents stated that only matters 
that present a systemic threat to health and safety or acts of 
financial irresponsibility should be considered deficiencies for 
purposes of competition.
    Response: While it is true that deficiencies can reflect problems 
of varying levels of severity, all deficiencies represent a significant 
failure to provide services consistent with Head Start Program 
Performance Standards and therefore it is appropriate to require a 
competition to determine if

[[Page 70016]]

the current grantee or another entity is the most qualified provider in 
that community.
    5. Comment: A large number of respondents stated that grantees 
should have the opportunity to appeal deficiencies before a grantee is 
required to compete.
    Response: The Act does not provide for an appeal of deficiency 
findings, unlike terminations and suspensions lasting more than 30 
days. Although there is no statutory right to an appeal, grantees 
currently have the opportunity to discuss the progress of the 
monitoring review while the review team is on site. Although the final 
determination is not made during the on-site review, grantees 
consistently are informed of the opportunity to provide additional 
input when concerns are identified while the team is on-site.
    6. Comment: Some respondents recommended that a weighting system be 
applied for findings from unannounced visits versus those found during 
announced monitoring reviews. Some respondents recommended that ACF 
revise the condition to focus on a pattern of deficiencies, 
deficiencies based on their severity, deficiencies that directly impact 
services to children and families, or multiple deficiencies in a single 
review.
    Response: In 2007, Congress specifically added authority in section 
641A(c)(1)(D) of the Act for ACF to conduct unannounced site 
inspections and consistent with this the number of unannounced reviews 
has increased as an added quality assurance measure. Programs should 
always be following Program Performance Standards and be ready for a 
review at any time. Grantees are always required to follow requirements 
of the Act and regulations and can be cited for not complying with 
regulations at any time during the year.
    While we appreciate the comments received on this provision, the 
final rule maintains the provision as proposed. As stated above, a 
deficiency is by definition a ``substantial or systemic material 
failure.'' ACF firmly stands behind the integrity of the monitoring and 
review process through which deficiencies are established and this has 
been consistently validated by rulings supporting ACF findings in the 
appeals process. ACF strongly believes that a grantee found to have a 
deficiency should compete to determine if it or another entity is the 
strongest provider in the community.

Proposed Sec.  1307.3(b)(2)--School Readiness Goals (Note that proposed 
Sec.  1307.3(b)(2) has been changed to Sec.  1307.3(b) in the final 
rule.)

    1. Comment: Many comments were received related to the 
establishment of goals and utilization of data on children's school 
readiness. While the majority of commenters expressed support for this 
requirement, numerous commenters raised concerns about how the 
condition will be implemented. For example, nearly all of the comments 
received on this condition requested that ACF issue guidance to clarify 
the requirements and explain how grantees' adherence to those 
requirements will be measured (discussed in further detail below). Many 
of the commenters also recommended that ACF not implement the condition 
until after such guidance has been issued and training and technical 
assistance has been provided to grantees.
    Response: We agree with these concerns and have revised the date of 
implementation of the condition to be after the effective date of the 
final rule. Therefore, in evaluating whether a grantee has met this 
condition, we will not rely on data beginning on June 12, 2009, as had 
been proposed in the NPRM, but rather beginning on the effective date 
of this final rule. In the NPRM, ACF proposed that grantees would be 
evaluated on establishing school readiness goals (Sec.  1307.3(b)(1)) 
at the June 2009 date, and on the steps to achieve school readiness 
(Sec.  1307.3(b)(2)) after the effective date of the regulation. We 
have changed the final rule to reflect that all of Sec.  1307.3(b) 
related to school readiness will be considered after the effective date 
of this regulation. Since the publication of the NPRM in September 
2010, there has been steady communication with Head Start grantees 
about school readiness goals through webcasts, two national institutes 
in February and October of 2011, training and technical assistance 
materials (including The Guide to Resources for Developing School 
Readiness Goals) and other material created by the National Center for 
Quality Teaching and Learning (http://eckkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/teaching). We also will continue to provide technical assistance 
and other supports for implementation of this condition.
    Establishing and using school readiness goals are central to 
providing high-quality services to children and families, and the high 
quality implementation of activities to meet this requirement will be 
the focus of training, technical assistance and on-going oversight by 
federal staff. However, compliance with the requirements and 
determinations about whether grantees meet the school readiness goals 
condition of the DRS will only be measured by evidence collected in 
reviews conducted under section 641A(c) of the Head Start Act. Evidence 
in these reviews is collected by monitoring teams, including regional 
staff, but determinations regarding evidence collected in any reviews 
are made only by the responsible HHS official.
    2. Comment: Numerous commenters requested that ACF issue guidance 
on the implementation of the requirement to establish and take steps to 
achieve school readiness goals. For example, many of these comments 
requested clarification on the definition of ``school readiness 
goals,'' what they should look like, how to determine what they should 
look like, and how to measure children's progress against them. Some 
commenters suggested that ACF establish national goals and benchmarks 
for children's school readiness that would be applied to all grantees. 
Other commenters stated that there should not be a uniform definition 
because what it means to be ready for school may vary by State, 
community, or population.
    Response: In response to these comments on the need for a 
definition, we have added a definition of ``school readiness goals'' to 
the final rule. The definition clarifies that school readiness goals 
are expectations of children's status and progress across domains of 
language and literacy development, cognition and general knowledge, 
approaches to learning, physical well-being and motor development, and 
social and emotional development that will improve their readiness for 
kindergarten. This definition is consistent with section 641A(g) of the 
Act and guidance provided by the Office of Head Start and draws on 
comments received. With respect to comments on national goals, in 
section 641A(g)(2)(A) the Act requires that school readiness goals be 
``agency determined.''
    3. Comment: Some commenters were unclear about whether the goals 
for improving the school readiness of children were meant to be 
individual plans for each child or global goals for all children in a 
program. Some commenters misinterpreted this section in the NPRM as 
requiring grantees to meet benchmarks for children's outcomes and 
progress, rather than requiring grantees to demonstrate how child-level 
assessment data is used to individualize children's experiences and 
inform continuous quality improvement. Others asked for guidance

[[Page 70017]]

around how to analyze school readiness data and requested that training 
and technical assistance be provided to increase grantees' capacity for 
analyzing child-level assessment data. Some also asked for ACF to 
provide a schedule that includes when grantees should analyze child-
level assessment data within the year (e.g., within the first 45 days 
of the program year).
    Response: In response to these comments on program or individual 
child goals, we have clarified in the final rule that the School 
Readiness Goals are for improving the school readiness of children in 
their program and are global or program goals for all of their 
children. We also reorganized the provision in the final rule to make 
it clearer that individual child-level data is critical in how programs 
take steps to help each individual child to make progress and to 
achieve overall program school readiness goals. Specifically for 
individual children, programs must analyze individual child-level data 
in order to determine each child's status and progress on those goals 
in order to individualize instruction for those children and to inform 
parents and families. Furthermore, we clarify in the final rule that 
aggregated child-level assessment data must be used to inform 
curriculum, instruction, professional development, program design, and 
other program decisions.
    4. Comment: Some commenters requested guidance on the process for 
aligning school readiness goals with the Head Start Child Outcomes 
Framework (Framework). In particular, commenters were concerned about 
the requirement to align with the Framework because, at the time the 
NPRM was open for public comment, the Framework was undergoing revision 
by ACF.
    Response: ACF since has published the revised framework (now called 
the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework 
(available at http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/teaching/eecd/Assessment/Child%20Outcomes/HS_Revised_Child_Outcomes_Framework.pdf)). We also have addressed these concerns in the OHS 
training and technical assistance, which discusses grantees' 
responsibilities and processes for ensuring alignment between agency-
established school readiness goals and the revised framework.
    5. Comment: Other commenters had concerns about using the Early 
Head Start Performance Measures Framework in determining children's 
status on the child competencies. In particular, there were questions 
about whether grantees need to set goals and measure progress on 
``parents as the primary nurturer'' and ``parent-child relationships'' 
as described in the Framework.
    Response: In response to these comments, the final rule clarifies 
that children's progress on the five essential domains is what should 
be measured by both Head Start and Early Head Start grantees. While the 
Framework is comprehensive and includes many elements, it is organized 
so that all the elements fit under the five essential domains of child 
development. Programs will continue to be instructed on using the 
essential domains as a framework for their goals and assessment of 
meeting the goals.
    6. Comment: Some commenters misinterpreted the language in the NPRM 
as requiring grantees to conduct a formal assessment of children three 
times per year (or two times per year for programs operating less than 
90 days), rather than requiring them to aggregate and examine child-
level assessment data regardless of the method of assessment three 
times each year.
    Response: In response to these concerns, ACF has added a definition 
of ``child-level assessment data'' to the final regulation. We also 
have addressed these comments in the training and technical assistance 
ACF provides by including information about the methods and types of 
assessment, assessment instruments, and other strategies for 
understanding children's development and learning that grantees should 
utilize in meeting the requirements to establish and take steps to 
achieve school readiness goals. Training and technical assistance also 
included a clear distinction between the process of child assessment 
and the process for collecting, aggregating, and analyzing child-level 
assessment data.
    7. Comment: Numerous comments were received related to how programs 
are to show compliance with the requirement to establish and take steps 
to achieve school readiness goals and utilize data for 
individualization and program improvement. Specifically, commenters 
requested guidance on what information needs to be documented and 
maintained to demonstrate compliance; how programs can self-assess; and 
what criteria ACF will use to evaluate compliance.
    Response: We appreciate these suggestions and drew on them in 
preparing technical assistance for grantees, which includes information 
regarding how grantees can self-assess, how they can examine school 
readiness goals as part of ongoing monitoring and use that information 
to guide program improvements to curricula and professional 
development, and how grantees can document and demonstrate compliance 
with these requirements for the triennial monitoring review. Additional 
information is available to grantees in the monitoring protocol.

Proposed Sec.  1307.3(b)(3)--Classroom Assessment Scoring System 
(CLASS): Pre-K (Note that proposed Sec.  1307.3(b)(3) has been changed 
to Sec.  1307.3(c) in the final rule.)

    Section 641A(c)(2)(F) of the Act requires the Secretary to include 
as part of the Head Start monitoring review process ``a valid and 
reliable research based observational instrument, implemented by 
qualified individuals with demonstrated reliability, that assesses 
classroom quality, including assessing multiple dimensions of teacher-
child interactions that are linked to positive child development and 
later achievement.'' Section 641(c)(1)(D) requires that such an 
instrument be used as part of the system for designation renewal. 
CLASS: Pre-K, a system that uses observation to rate the interactions 
between adults and children in the classroom as high-, middle- or low-
quality, meets the statutory requirements for ``a valid and reliable 
research-based observational instrument.'' Before selecting an 
instrument to fulfill this requirement, ACF consulted with leading 
early childhood assessment experts who all advised that the CLASS: Pre-
K was the instrument that best met the statutory requirement. The 
Conference Report accompanying the Act also suggested that ACF consider 
using the CLASS: Pre-K (H.R. Conference Report No. 220-439 at 111 
(2007), as reprinted in 2007 U.S.C.C.A.N. 442, 462). Ultimately, ACF 
selected the CLASS: Pre-K instrument because, as discussed in the 
``CLASS Implementation Guide: Measuring and Improving Classroom 
Interactions in Early Childhood Settings'' CLASS: Pre-K has been 
validated by over ten years of research in educational settings.
    1. Comment: ACF received a large number of comments related to 
CLASS: Pre-K. While there was general support for the tool, some 
commenters raised a range of concerns related to using CLASS: Pre-K for 
program accountability purposes.
    Response: As discussed in the CLASS: Pre-K manual, the purpose of 
CLASS: Pre-K is to measure ``the quality of the classroom environment'' 
and uses of CLASS: Pre-K include research, accountability efforts, 
program planning and evaluation, and professional development and 
supervision. ACF recognizes that while CLASS: Pre-K was developed for a 
range of purposes, it has been used primarily for research and 
professional development purposes. It is

[[Page 70018]]

also being used in some state accountability and quality improvement 
efforts in Quality Rating and Improvement Systems, in which CLASS 
scores are used as a measure in rating the quality of an early 
childhood program. ACF is working closely with the developers to ensure 
CLASS: Pre-K is used in ways that inform programs and accurately 
reflect classroom quality.
    2. Comment: A number of respondents requested that ACF delay the 
inclusion of CLASS: Pre-K in the Designation Renewal System. 
Respondents stated that CLASS: Pre-K has not been in use long enough 
with Head Start grantees to elevate scores to such high importance and 
that the science has not provided a basis yet for selecting the 
threshold for competition. Others said it should not be implemented 
until after the transition period in order to hold all grantees to the 
same standard.
    Response: While we appreciate the public comments received on the 
timing for considering CLASS: Pre-K, ACF has decided not to delay the 
inclusion of CLASS: Pre-K as a condition for designation renewal due to 
the critical importance of classroom quality. As was included in the 
NPRM, the CLASS: Pre-K condition will be implemented in the second year 
of the transition period using data from observations conducted after 
the effective date of the final rule. However, no grantees will be 
awarded non-competitive extensions without being evaluated against the 
two-part CLASS criterion. We based the decision to utilize CLASS in the 
Designation Renewal System on the following: (1) Research has shown 
that teacher-child interaction is critical for children's social and 
academic development, (2) a measure of classroom quality is critical to 
ensuring that children are in high quality programs, and (3) there is 
an extensive research base for CLASS: Pre-K. ACF notified grantees in 
August 2008 that CLASS: Pre-K would begin to be used in Head Start 
monitoring reviews (see ACF-IM-HS-08-11). In addition, ACF has provided 
all grantees the opportunity to be trained on the protocol and grantees 
have been monitored on CLASS: Pre-K instrument for two years. Moreover, 
ACF-IM-HS-08-21 provided further information regarding the importance 
of child-teacher interaction. ACF also provides training resources to 
each Head Start grantee as part of its annual funding, consistent with 
requirements in the Act. Finally, ACF's inclusion of a relative 
threshold, as well as a minimum threshold of quality and a standard of 
excellence, are responsive to comments about the current state of the 
science. While research has not yet identified a specific CLASS score 
necessary to impact positive outcomes, research has shown, (1) That low 
levels of quality are not related to children's outcomes, and (2) that 
there is no ``good enough'' level of quality above which additional 
quality improvements do not matter for children's outcomes (i.e., 
higher levels of quality are related to better outcomes for children) 
(Burchinal, M., Xue, Y., Tien, H., Auger, A., & Mashburn, A. (March, 
2011)).
    3. Comment: A number of respondents raised concerns with the use 
and reliability of CLASS: Pre-K with culturally and linguistically 
diverse classrooms. Some respondents commented that CLASS: Pre-K is 
inappropriate with specific populations or programs, such as American 
Indian/Alaska Native, Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, or dual language 
learners.
    Response: Research consistently shows that children in classrooms 
with higher CLASS: Pre-K scores demonstrate more positive social and 
early academic development.(Burchinal, M., Vandergrift, N., Pianta, R., 
& Mashburn, A. (2010), and Burchinal, M., Xue, Y., Tien, H., Auger, A., 
& Mashburn, A. (March, 2011)). While the CLASS: Pre-K was not designed 
to measure specific practices in multi-lingual classrooms, the tool has 
been used in classrooms with diverse populations. For example, findings 
from the National Center for Early Development and Learning (NCEDL)'s 
research conducted in nearly 700 pre-kindergarten classrooms and 700 
kindergarten classrooms, including linguistically diverse classrooms, 
suggest that CLASS: Pre-K functions well as an assessment of the 
quality of teacher-child interactions in classrooms with language 
diversity, and that CLASS: Pre-K predicts gains in dual language 
learners children's school readiness skills (Downer, 2011). ACF will 
continue to examine concerns regarding the use of CLASS: Pre-K in 
culturally and linguistically diverse classes. ACF is providing 
additional cross-cultural training to CLASS: Pre-K reviewers to ensure 
reviewers are familiar with the culture of the families served and that 
they are fluent in the predominant teaching language used in the class 
where they conduct observations.
    4. Comment: Some respondents raised other concerns with the CLASS: 
Pre-K instrument itself, aside from culture or language. Respondents 
stated, for example, that CLASS: Pre-K scores are reliable within one 
number above or below the actual score and that CLASS: Pre-K was 
developed with a national norming sample and data primarily from State-
funded pre-kindergarten programs.
    Response: ACF is confident of the reliability and appropriateness 
of the CLASS: Pre-K tool for use in Head Start classrooms based on the 
extensive and growing use of the instrument to assess a wide range of 
early childhood programs (e.g., in numerous research studies as well as 
State Quality Rating and Improvement Systems) and ACF's experience 
using the instrument over the last 2 years. With respect to concerns 
about the norming sample used for the development of CLASS: Pre-K, we 
note that the developers included Head Start programs among the sample 
of programs they tested.
    5. Comment: ACF specifically requested comments on alternative 
methods to the CLASS: Pre-K condition, including the use of an absolute 
threshold versus a relative threshold that compares each grantee's 
score to the scores of other grantees reviewed in the same year, or the 
use of different absolute thresholds for each domain. A smaller subset 
of respondents commented on these issues. Those in support of absolute 
thresholds emphasized that identifying low-performing grantees is 
achieved best by defining a minimum level of quality all grantees must 
meet. Those recommending a relative threshold indicated that comparing 
grantees to their peers is the most appropriate approach, particularly 
absent clear research indicating what an absolute threshold should be. 
Several respondents proposed using national averages to determine 
scores to trigger competition or focusing on significant variances from 
the national averages.
    Some respondents asked for further clarification on what was meant 
by ``low'' scores or requested a justification for why the proposed 
scores were chosen. Other respondents commented that the proposed 
scores for competition establish either unrealistic standards in some 
domains or inadequate standards of quality in other domains.
    Response: In response to comments, ACF has revised the proposed 
CLASS: Pre-K condition from being solely an absolute threshold of 
scores below a 3 on any of the three CLASS: Pre-K domains (Emotional 
Support, Instructional Support, and Classroom Organization) during the 
two most recent CLASS: Pre-K observations to a two-part criterion, that 
consists of both a relative and an absolute threshold based on the most 
recent CLASS: Pre-K observation for all three domains of CLASS: Pre-K.
    Specifically, ACF will require grantees whose average scores across

[[Page 70019]]

classrooms fall in the lowest 10 percent on any of the three CLASS: 
Pre-K domains in that year to compete. ACF will determine the lowest 
deciles by comparing the scores in each of the three CLASS: Pre-K 
domains of all grantees reviewed in the same year under section 
641A(c)(1)(A), (C), and (D). If a program scores in the bottom 10 
percent of all Head Start programs, this indicates that the vast 
majority of organizations operating Head Start are providing a higher 
quality program for children. For a program with an average score in 
the lowest ten percent in the domain of Emotional Support, it means 
that ninety percent of Head Start programs assessed were shown to be 
doing a better job helping children develop positive relationships, 
enjoyment of learning, and appropriate levels of independence. For a 
program with an average score in the lowest ten percent in Classroom 
Organization it means that ninety percent of Head Start programs 
assessed were rated higher on how well teachers manage classrooms to 
maximize learning and keep children engaged. And for a program with an 
average score in the lowest ten percent in the domain of Instructional 
Support, it means that ninety percent of Head Start programs were 
assessed to be doing a better job promoting children's thinking and 
problem solving, using feedback to deepen understanding and helping 
children develop more complex language skills. If ninety percent of 
Head Start programs are doing better in these areas, it is certainly 
reasonable to require that these programs compete to determine if there 
is another provider in that community that can provide children a 
higher quality experience.
    In addition, the final rule establishes a minimum quality 
threshold, or ``floor,'' for each of the three domains under Sec.  
1307.3(c)(1). Grantees will be required to compete if, in the most 
recent CLASS: Pre-K observation, the average score across all 
classrooms observed by ACF in any CLASS: Pre-K domain falls below the 
minimum quality threshold for that domain established in the 
regulations, even if it does not fall into the lowest 10 percent of 
grantees assessed on that domain. For reasons described below, for the 
Emotional Support domain, the minimum quality threshold is an average 
score across all classrooms of a 4. For the Instructional Support 
domain, the minimum quality threshold is an average score across all 
classrooms of a 2. For the Classroom Organization domain, the minimum 
quality threshold is an average score across all classrooms of a 3.
    ACF sets a clear minimum quality threshold grantees must achieve, 
consistent with research that demonstrates the lack of improvement in 
child outcomes when the quality of child-teacher interactions measured 
by the CLASS fell below certain levels in the different CLASS domains. 
There is a growing body of research showing that at least moderate 
quality is necessary in Instructional Support for improving children's 
outcomes (i.e., there is no evidence demonstrating a link between CLASS 
Instructional Support scores and children's outcomes when CLASS 
Instructional Support scores fall below a 2). Conversely, research 
suggests moderate to high-quality is necessary in Emotional Support for 
improving children's outcomes. (See, for example, Burchinal, M., 
Vandergrift, N., Pianta, R., & Mashburn, A. (2010). Threshold analysis 
of association between child care quality and child outcomes for low-
income children in pre-kindergarten programs. Early Childhood Research 
Quarterly, 25(2), 166-176.) Based on this research, as well as comments 
received on the NPRM, we consulted the CLASS manual to identify the 
CLASS scores that most closely correspond to ``at least moderate 
quality'' for the Instructional Support domain and ``moderate to high 
quality'' for Emotional Support domain. As a result, we revised the 
minimum thresholds for Instructional Support and Emotional Support 
proposed in the NPRM (i.e., 2 for Instructional Support and 4 for 
Emotional Support). The minimum threshold for Classroom Organization 
stays at 3, the same as the NPRM.
    Finally, ACF is establishing an exceptional level of quality to 
ensure that the relative threshold does not result in exceptionally 
high quality programs being required to compete. In the unlikely event 
that a grantee's score in a domain falls in the lowest 10 percent but 
the score equals or exceeds the exceptional level of quality, then the 
grantee will not be required to compete on the basis of its score on 
that domain. The exceptional level of -quality threshold or standard of 
excellence for each three CLASS: Pre-K domains is an average score 
across all classrooms of 6 or above. ACF selected this particular 
threshold because the developers of the CLASS: Pre-K established these 
scores on the instrument's seven point scale expressly to identify 
those grantees functioning at the highest levels of quality (with 
scores of 1 to two being in the low range; three to five in the mid-
range; and six to seven in the high range of quality). The following is 
an example of how the absolute thresholds would work in conjunction 
with the relative threshold in Emotional Support. The lowest 10 percent 
of grantees as well as all grantees that have an average score below a 
4 will be required to recompete based on their Emotional Support 
average score. If more than 10 percent of grantees had an average score 
in that domain below a 4, all of those grantees would have to compete. 
If a grantee in the lowest 10 percent in that domain had an average 
score of 6 or above, they would not be required to compete on the basis 
of the Emotional Support score because they have achieved the 
exceptional quality threshold in that domain. Grantees with an average 
score between a 4 and a 6 on Emotional Support but that are not in the 
lowest 10 percent would not be required to compete on the basis of 
their Emotional Support score.
    In summary, this revised CLASS condition combines the merits of 
both the relative and absolute threshold concepts. It includes a 
relative threshold, which is responsive to comments that research has 
not yet identified the specific threshold of quality that is needed to 
impact positive outcomes, while recognizing research showing that there 
is no ``good enough'' level of quality (i.e., higher levels of quality 
are related to better outcomes for children) (Burchinal, M., Xue, Y., 
Tien, H., Auger, A., & Mashburn, A. (March, 2011)). It also guards 
against score inflation, which, if it occurred, would result in less 
rigorous standards over time. The rule also sets a minimum quality 
threshold based on research findings that show a minimum level of 
quality must be achieved before positive changes can be made in 
children's outcomes and it establishes a high-quality standard above 
which grantees would be exempt from competition. In setting the minimum 
quality thresholds and exceptionally high-quality standards ACF 
compared CLASS: Pre-K scores for Head Start programs to national data 
and to data on other early childhood programs, examined the CLASS: Pre-
K user manual, considered the Office of Head Start's expectations for 
what should be taking place in early childhood classrooms, and embraced 
the latest research findings.
    As will be discussed in more detail in Section Sec.  1307.8, ACF is 
implementing a significantly improved approach to each grantees' CLASS 
assessment including even more rigorous training and reliability 
assurance, a more rigorous random sampling of each grantee's classes to 
determine which to observe, and more consistent protocols for 
implementation. For these reason,

[[Page 70020]]

determinations for designation renewal will be made based on the most 
recent CLASS: Pre-K observations, rather than the two most recent 
CLASS: Pre-K observations as was proposed in the NPRM.
    6. Comment: A number of respondents had questions about whether or 
how the CLASS Pre-K would be implemented in Early Head Start programs 
and/or in the Home-based program option.
    Response: CLASS: Pre-K will not be used in Early Head Start 
programs or in programs that operate the Home-based option only. ACF 
will consider incorporating a valid and reliable measure of teacher-
child interaction in Early Head Start and in the Home-based program 
option when such a tool becomes available. ACF would incorporate such a 
tool only after soliciting public input through an NPRM.
    7. Comment: Some commenters expressed concerns about how the 
``negative climate'' dimension of the Emotional Support domain of the 
CLASS Pre-K would be included in grantees' average scores in that 
domain.
    Response: The ``negative climate'' dimension high and low scores 
have the opposite meaning than for all of the other CLASS dimensions. 
Specifically, for negative climate a low score means that there is a 
low level of negative climate in the classroom--which is good. For that 
reason, the negative climate score is reversed when averaging dimension 
scores to obtain a domain score, as is explained in the CLASS: Pre-K 
manual--so that a grantee receiving a good negative climate score will 
likewise receive a higher score on the overall domain of Emotional 
Support of which negative climate is one part. ACF will use that 
methodology for obtaining averaging as prescribed in the CLASS: Pre-K 
manual to ensure that average domain scores are accurate.

Proposed Sec.  1307.3(b)(4)--License Revocation (Note that proposed 
Sec.  1307.3(b)(4) has been changed to Sec.  1307.3(d) in the final 
rule.)

    1. Comment: ACF received a significant number of comments in 
response to the proposed licensing condition described at Sec.  
1307.3(b)(4). A number of commenters expressed support for licensing 
revocation as a trigger for competition. Others raised concerns about 
the trigger and what constitutes a license revocation as discussed in 
Sec.  1307.3(b)(4).
    A common theme among comments on this condition was that variations 
among State licensing requirements would make it impossible to 
implement it in an equitable manner across Head Start and Early Head 
Start grantees. Many remarked that ACF should set a standard for all 
Head Start programs rather than relying on separate State standards.
    There were a number of comments that mentioned that the fate of an 
entire grantee and all of its delegates would be in jeopardy when one 
delegate agency loses its license. Many respondents noted that the 
condition is duplicative since OHS already would learn about a 
licensing revocation during an on-site monitoring review. Finally, a 
common theme among commenters was a concern that the licensing 
condition in particular could create challenges to collaborations 
because of concerns over potential loss of funding due to loss of 
individual center licenses.
    Response: We would like to clarify that it is the revocation of a 
license, not the suspension of a license, that will require a grantee 
to compete. Revocation is a process that varies by State and local 
standards. However, despite these variations, removing a licensing or 
forbidding a center to continue operating is the final step in a series 
of corrective actions for an agency in all jurisdictions. Revocation is 
the removal of a license, meaning that a center no longer is allowed to 
operate in caring for children in that jurisdiction. The revocation of 
a license to operate is a serious indication of an agency's inability 
to operate a high-quality program.
    Section 641A(a)(1)(D)(i) of the Act and Head Start regulations 
implemented at 45 CFR 1306.30(c) require that ``the facilities used by 
Early Head Start and Head Start grantees and delegate agencies for 
regularly scheduled center-based and combination program option 
classroom activities or home-based group socialization activities must 
comply with State and local requirements concerning licensing. In cases 
where these licensing standards are less comprehensive or less 
stringent than the Head Start regulations, or where no State or local 
licensing standards are applicable, grantee and delegate agencies are 
required to assure that their facilities are in compliance with the 
Head Start Program Performance Standards related to health and safety 
as found in 45 CFR 1304.53(a).'' ACF would be remiss if it did not 
require a grantee whose license had been revoked to demonstrate its 
fitness to continue to receive Head Start funding following such a 
determination by State or local authorities. Given the serious nature 
of revocation and given that the consequence for the grantee is not 
termination from the program or even suspension, but only a requirement 
to compete for further funding, it should not be necessary to require 
exhaustion of appeal opportunities before ACF requires the grantee to 
compete to prove through a competition they are the most qualified 
entity in the community.
    ACF will maintain this condition as laid out in the NPRM, 
regardless of appeal status since it is such a serious condition with 
one exception. It merits repeating here that requiring a grantee to 
compete for continued funding is not equivalent to terminating the 
grant. In the final rule ACF is allowing for a longer period to resolve 
appeals than was proposed. The final rule would allow a grantee that 
has had its license revoked to continue to receive further funding 
without competing if the revocation was overturned or withdrawn any 
time ``before the announcement of the competition in which the grantee 
would be required to compete for renewed funding.'' If a decision on 
appeal is not made by that point then ACF is justified in requiring the 
grantee to compete since competitions have to be held within certain 
time periods to ensure that either the existing grantee or a new 
grantee has been selected by the time the existing grant expires. It 
does not make sense to delay a competition based on the possibility 
that a revocation of a license may be overturned or withdrawn sometime 
in the indefinite future.
    If the license of any center where a grantees is serving Head Start 
or Early Head Start children is revoked, the grantee would be required 
to compete. As mentioned previously, each grantee is responsible for 
ensuring that every child it serves, no matter where or by whom, 
receives high-quality early childhood services. Delegate agencies are 
required to follow licensing regulations, and grantees should be aware 
of issues that may jeopardize a delegate agency's license before that 
license is revoked.

Proposed Sec.  1307.3(b)(5)--Suspended by ACF (Note that proposed Sec.  
1307.3(b)(5) has been changed to Sec.  1307.3(e) in the final rule.)

    1. Comment: Many commenters agreed that agencies that have been 
suspended by ACF should have to compete for renewed funding. Other 
commenters stated that the condition only should apply after an agency 
has exercised all of its due process rights afforded under the appeals 
process and after final decisions have been made in that appeal 
process. A few commenters raised the concern that smaller entities may 
not have adequate resources to appeal a suspension. One commenter

[[Page 70021]]

suggested that suspension should not be counted as meeting the 
condition if a grantee was reinstated. One commenter stated that ACF 
should ensure that the reason for the suspension was related to the 
Head Start program. Another commented that suspension was already a 
tool ACF could use in finding a grantee unsuited for maintaining 
Federal funding.
    Response: Under 45 CFR 1303.12(a), a grantee can be subject to 
summary suspension if it is at ``[a] serious risk of: (1) Substantial 
injury to property or loss of project funds; or (2) Violation of a 
Federal, State or local criminal statute; or (3) If staff or 
participants' health and safety are at risk.'' Suspension under 45 CFR 
1303.11 only can be based on ``circumstances related to a particular 
grant, such as ineffective or improper use of Federal funds or for 
failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, 
instructions, assurances, terms and conditions or, in accordance with 
Part 1302 of this chapter, upon loss by the grantee of legal status or 
financial viability.'' Regulations implemented at 45 CFR 1303.10(a) 
specify that a suspension of either type involves a finding by ACF that 
a grantee has either failed to live up to one or more standards 
applicable to Head Start grantees or is at risk for misusing Head Start 
funds, violating a criminal statute, or harming its staff or program 
participants. The grounds for suspension and summary suspension are 
also grounds for finding that the grantee is not conducting a high 
quality program and should be required to compete for funding.
    ACF considered all the comments submitted related to suspension and 
is making one change in the final rule. We have modified the rule so 
that if there is a pending appeal and the agency did not have an 
opportunity to show cause as to why the suspension should not have been 
imposed or why the suspension should have been lifted if it had already 
been imposed under 45 CFR Part 1303, the agency will not be required to 
compete based on this condition. If an agency has received an 
opportunity to show cause, the condition will be implemented regardless 
of appeal status, since the performance issues that would lead ACF to 
suspend a grantee are so serious--and are exercised with such 
infrequency--that to delay a competition in that service area would not 
be in the best interest of the children and families in that community.

Proposed Sec.  1307.3(b)(6)--Debarred From Receiving Federal Funds or 
Disqualified From CACFP (Note that proposed Sec.  1307.3(b)(6) has been 
changed to Sec.  1307.3(f) in the final rule.)

    1. Comment: In Sec.  1307.3(b)(6) of the NPRM, ACF proposed that a 
grantee be required to compete that ``has been debarred from receiving 
Federal or State funds from any Federal or State department or agency 
or has been disqualified from the Child and Adult Care Food Program 
(CACFP) any time during the period covered by the designated ACF 
official's review under Sec.  1307.7 but has not yet been terminated or 
denied refunding by ACF.'' A majority of respondents were supportive of 
this condition. Some respondents raised questions about aspects of 
debarment and disqualification and implementation of this condition 
such as noting that the debarment condition is duplicative because an 
agency that has been debarred from receiving Federal funds already 
would have lost its Head Start grant. One commenter suggested that 
programs disqualified from CACFP due to errors should not have to 
recompete.
    A number of respondents raised concerns that only a final debarment 
or disqualification decision should be considered, allowing the grantee 
to go through the entire appeal process and exercise all due process 
rights. Several commenters recommended that if a delegate agency is 
debarred, the grantees should terminate the delegate and the grantee 
should not be required to compete.
    Response: ACF considered the comments received and has not changed 
the policy in the final rule. Debarment is grounds for a deficiency 
finding under the statutory definition of that term, and indicates an 
agency's failure to administer a high-quality program. Head Start 
grantees are eligible to receive funding under the Department of 
Agriculture's (USDA) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for the 
food served to children at the meals provided by the Head Start 
program. If a grantee were disqualified from the USDA program, the 
grantee would not receive funding for the food served to children in 
the program. Under 45 CFR 1304.23(b)(1)(i), all grantees are required 
to use CACFP funds as the first source of funding for program meals 
under the regulations; therefore, disqualification would mean that the 
grantee had lost a major funding source for the meals and snacks served 
in the programs. In addition to requiring grantees to report on this 
condition, ACF will work with USDA's Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) 
to receive information about grantees that have been disqualified and 
will check that information against grantee reporting.

Proposed Sec.  1307.3(b)(7)--Audit Findings (Note that proposed Sec.  
1307.3(b)(7) has been changed to Sec.  1307.3(g) in the final rule.)

    1. Comment: Commenters raised concerns about the performance of the 
audits. Many focused on the issue of using A-133 audit findings or 
State agency audit, review or investigation findings to trigger 
recompetition automatically. Many commenters stated that ACF would be 
delegating its statutory duties to third parties. Others stated that by 
accepting the findings of outside sources, ACF would be denying the 
grantee's due process. Although many agreed with the intent of this 
condition, they recommended that qualified fiscal officers or Certified 
Public Accountants within the Office of Head Start be tasked with 
reviewing the outside audit results.
    A small number of commenters expressed concerns that auditors could 
lose some of their independence if they realized that their findings 
could cause grantees to face competition.
    Other commenters supported the need to have strong, financially 
sound grantees. Some commenters were concerned with the idea of 
allowing only one material weakness, which might be a minor problem, to 
lead to a recompetition. They stated that ACF should instead look for a 
pattern of problems indicating a grantee's financial weakness that 
could place Federal funds at risk.
    Response: In response to comments, ACF is removing the material 
weakness component from the proposed condition. ACF has concluded that 
while in many instances a single finding of material weakness 
represents a serious issue, that there are instances where a material 
weakness finding would not be adequate as a singular indicator of 
program quality that would trigger competition.
    Nevertheless, ACF takes audit findings seriously and for any year 
in which an entity's audit as required by OMB Circular A-133 classifies 
Head Start as a major program and the report to the Federal Audit 
Clearinghouse (FAC) shows other than an unqualified (``clean'') opinion 
(e.g., qualified opinion, adverse opinion, or disclaimer of opinion) 
for the Head Start program, ACF will consider this as a ``red flag'' 
that will trigger additional fiscal oversight through on-going 
monitoring and-additional targeted review, including unannounced on-
site

[[Page 70022]]

monitoring reviews, to make a determination (concurred in by program 
officials and senior ACF management) as to whether the issue identified 
raises to the level of a deficiency as defined in the Act. Failure to 
complete the required audit under OMB Circular A-133 and submit the 
results to the FAC will be considered a ``red flag'' in the same 
manner. If the fiscal issue identified does lead to a deficiency in 
Head Start monitoring, that deficiency finding would lead to 
competition under Sec.  1307.3(a).
    Since inability to continue to operate as a going concern is a more 
serious problem, ACF is maintaining this part of the proposed condition 
with the same definition and the same time frame as proposed in the 
NPRM.
    Aside from that modification, this condition remains unchanged. In 
response to concerns commenters raised that ACF is impermissibly 
delegating its responsibility to non-federal auditors, note that the 
final regulation still requires that ACF review the auditor's findings 
before making the final decision to require the grantee to compete 
based upon an auditor's findings.

Proposed Sec.  1307.3(c)--Possible Eighth Condition

    1. Comment: ACF received a significant number of comments related 
to possible additional criteria (an eighth condition) that would be 
utilized if the seven conditions outlined in proposed Sec.  
1307.3(b)(1)-(7) of the NPRM did not result in 25 percent of grantees 
competing in a given review cycle. Nearly all of the comments opposed, 
the inclusion of additional criteria for the purpose of reaching a 
minimum percent of grantees competing because of concerns about setting 
a 25 percent quota for redesignation. These comments stated that a 25 
percent quota does not reflect Congressional intent.
    Response: As explained above in the discussion regarding proposed 
Sec.  1307.3(a), we replaced the 25 percent minimum requirement with 
the two-part CLASS criteria and have made a conforming change to Sec.  
1307.3(c). A discussion of comments received on the proposed additional 
criteria that were open for public comment and our responses to these 
comments follows, although neither of these criteria was incorporated 
into the final rule.
    2. Comment: In the preamble text of the NPRM, ACF requested 
comments on two possible approaches to defining additional criteria to 
be met if needed to satisfy the 25 percent minimum standard. Commenters 
stated that even though ACF described in general terms two approaches 
under consideration for reaching the minimum requirement of grantees 
competing (i.e., assigning values to noncompliances, using evidence-
based rating tools or some combination), the NPRM does not describe 
adequately these criteria or how they would be used in the Designation 
Renewal System.
    Comments also were received specific to each of the two possible 
approaches to defining additional criteria. The first approach would 
use noncompliance findings from monitoring reviews by assigning a value 
to each noncompliance, weighting more serious or problematic 
noncompliances more heavily, and giving each grantee an overall score 
for noncompliances. Many respondents objected to the inclusion of 
noncompliances entirely, stating that the term ``noncompliance'' is 
broad and captures such a continuum of violations--from minor 
infractions to more serious health and safety issues--which respondents 
stated might not be indicative of poor performance. Respondents 
emphasized that using such a broad framework is inappropriate as a 
basis for measuring program quality.
    Many respondents stated that an approach that involves a ranking 
system and complex scoring of noncompliances would be burdensome to ACF 
and to grantees and contrary to the requirement that the Designation 
Renewal System be reliable and transparent. Several comments questioned 
why ACF would create a separate ranking system, in addition to the 
existing review processes in place. ACF also requested public comment 
specifically on the relative weighting of noncompliance findings, 
whether some noncompliances should be weighted more heavily than 
others, and whether the size of the grantee should be a factor taken 
into consideration in the ranking system. In response, many respondents 
stated that selecting which noncompliance findings should be included 
and what their relative weighting should be is arbitrary and introduces 
a high level of subjectivity that makes measuring quality consistently 
across programs difficult. Respondents questioned how ACF would 
distinguish between noncompliance findings and determine which are most 
important. Other comments, while objecting generally to using 
noncompliance findings, stated that weighting noncompliances would be a 
logical step if noncompliances were used. These respondents stated that 
some noncompliance should be weighted more heavily than others and 
doing so would prevent minor issues from requiring grantees to compete.
    Response: We appreciate the comments and recommendations 
respondents offered regarding the use of noncompliances as an 
additional criterion to reaching a 25 percent minimum of grantees 
competing. While ACF believes that noncompliance findings as a category 
are integral to the monitoring process and that such findings are 
critical to understanding whether grantees are meeting the Head Start 
Program Performance Standards, we are not using them for the purpose of 
designation renewal, provided that grantees correct them in the 
specified timeframes; uncorrected noncompliance findings that become 
deficiencies still will be included in the Designation Renewal System 
as part of the deficiency condition under Sec.  1307.3(a). We agree 
that noncompliances represent a broad range of areas and believe that 
assigning values for purposes of determining which grantees compete 
would be difficult and imprecise. In response to comments and because 
the deficiency condition already is inclusive of uncorrected 
noncompliances, we have not added a condition related to noncompliance 
in the final rule.
    3. Comment: Many comments also were received related to the second 
approach to defining additional criteria that would introduce the use 
of evidence-based rating instruments (e.g., the Early Childhood 
Environmental Rating Scale, Infant and Toddler Environment Rating 
Scale, and the Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale) into the 
Head Start monitoring review system. Some of the comments received 
expressed a preference for use of the environment rating scales (ERS) 
over noncompliance data if the proposed 25 percent minimum standard is 
maintained in the final rule and one of the two proposed additional 
criteria must be selected.
    Although comments supporting the use of ERS were received and many 
stated that they held the ERS instruments in high regard, the majority 
of commenters expressed concerns and objected to the use of ERS as 
criteria for determining whether grantees would have to compete for 
renewed funding. Commenters viewed the ERS as primarily input driven 
(e.g., focusing on furnishings, personal care, and the structure of 
activities) and would not capture some of the central features of the 
program, such as comprehensive services. A concern also was raised that 
the ERS focuses on the classroom environment and does not give 
attention to governance or administrative structures. Many commenters 
also expressed concerns that the ERS does

[[Page 70023]]

not provide a thorough assessment of the central element of quality for 
children under three--the relationship between caregiver, child, and 
family.
    We also received numerous comments expressing concerns about the 
implementation of ERS in the monitoring review system and as a 
condition for designation renewal. Some commenters expressed concerns 
over the complexity of the administration of the ERS, noting that they 
are sophisticated instruments, requiring reviewers to make subjective 
judgments on some 40 different dimensions of classroom quality. 
Concerns were raised around the cost and burden associated with the 
need for appropriate training of teams of outside professional 
reviewers and ongoing monitoring of inter-rater reliability.
    Response: We appreciate the comments and suggestions received 
regarding the proposed use of ERS as additional criteria to identify 
grantees for competition if the 25 percent minimum standard is not met 
through the seven conditions. We believe the ERS instruments are high 
quality, research-based measures of the quality of the environment in 
early childhood settings, including Head Start and Early Head Start. 
However, we also agree with comments regarding the limitations of the 
instruments (i.e., they are not able to capture some of the key 
features of quality of Head Start and Early Head Start programs) and 
view them as overlapping to some extent with existing measures, such as 
the monitoring reviews. As a result, as indicated previously, we 
replaced the proposed 25 percent threshold in this final rule and 
modified the CLASS: Pre-K related criteria to have two subparts to 
ensure that there is robust competition.

Proposed Sec.  1307.4--Grantee Reporting Requirements Concerning 
Certain Conditions

    1. Comment: In the NPRM, we proposed that Head Start agencies must 
report in writing to the designated ACF official within 10 working days 
of the occurrence any of the following events: (1) The agency has had a 
revocation of a license to operate a center by a State or local 
licensing entity; (2) the agency has filed for bankruptcy or agreed to 
a reorganization plan as part of a bankruptcy settlement; (3) the 
agency has been debarred from receiving Federal or State funds from any 
Federal or State department or agency or has been disqualified from the 
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP); and (4) the agency has 
received an audit, audit review, investigation or inspection report 
from the agency's auditor, a State agency, or the cognizant Federal 
audit agency containing a determination that the agency is at risk for 
ceasing to be a going concern. Commenters raised concern that it is an 
undue burden on programs to provide this information and that ACF 
should be able to collect this information. In addition, some 
commenters agreed that reporting this information was necessary but 
that the 10-day time frame was not feasible.
    Response: We are not making any changes to the requirement for 
grantees to report to ACF on these four conditions. We believe that 
each of these conditions indicates a serious problem and that ACF 
should know about them as soon as possible so that appropriate action 
can be taken. The most efficient method for ACF to learn of these 
conditions is to require grantees to report them directly.
    However, in response to comments, we have made a couple of changes 
to the final reporting requirements. First, based on comments that 
license revocation is a serious and problematic occurrence, we have 
modified the reporting requirements for certain events based on whether 
they occurred before or after the effective date of the Part. 
Specifically, for licensing revocations, we require that Head Start 
agencies must report in writing to the responsible HHS official within 
30 working days of the effective date of this Part if the agency has 
had a revocation of a license to operate a center by a State or local 
licensing entity during the period between June 12, 2009, and the 
effective date of this Part. This modification to the NPRM was made 
since there is not a source of information for ACF to check to 
determine whether a grantee had its license revoked.
    Regarding reporting of debarment and disqualification from CACFP, 
many commenters suggested that HHS use existing sources of information 
rather than having grantees report. In the case of debarment from 
Federal funds, there is a database that is publicly available. As 
proposed in the NPRM, ACF still will still require grantees to report 
on this condition. We also will check the information grantees provide 
against the national List of Excluded Parties. Regarding CACFP 
disqualification, the National Disqualified List is not part of the 
other Federal funding database nor is the list publicly available or 
available to other Federal agencies. Grantees will be required to 
report CACFP disqualification and ACF will work with USDA 
(administering agency for CACFP) to acquire this information as well.
    While we appreciate comments asking for a longer timeframe to 
report, we have retained the 10 day requirement due to the very serious 
nature of these events. HHS believes that each of these conditions is 
so serious that we should be notified as soon as possible. We believe 
that it does not put an undue burden on programs to report within 10 
working days.

Proposed Sec.  1307.5--Requirements To Be Considered for Designation 
for a Five-year Period When the Existing Entity in a Community Is Not 
Determined To Be Delivering a High-quality and Comprehensive Head Start 
Program and Is Not Automatically Renewed

    1. Comment: A few comments were received on the application process 
described in this section for cases where the existing grantee in a 
community is not determined to be delivering a high-quality program and 
so there will be a competition in that community. Those comments 
expressed confusion about the provision and asked for clarification in 
the final rule. The commenters on this provision expressed strong 
concern in all cases when there is a transition between grantees. 
Commenters also asked whether grantees that voluntarily relinquished 
their grant would be considered a terminated grantee and therefore 
prohibited from applying from competition.
    Response: This language is taken directly from the description of 
DRS in the Act at section 641(d) but we have added additional language 
for clarification. We also clarify that the criteria at section 641(d) 
of the Act apply to Head Start.
    As proposed in the NPRM, terminated grantees will be excluded from 
competing for funding for the next five years. This provision applies 
beginning with the effective date of the regulation and that exclusion 
is for a five-year period beginning with the former grantee's 
termination by ACF. We have clarified that this only applies to 
grantees terminated for cause. ACF has made one modification to 1307.5, 
however; similar to terminated grantees, a Head Start or Early Head 
Start agency that has had a ``denial of refunding,'' defined in 45 CFR 
1303.2, is also excluded from competing for the next five years. ACF 
has added the reference to denials of refunding because denials of 
refunding are made on the same grounds as terminations and have the 
same effect under 45CFR 1303.15(c). A determination that a grantee will 
not be awarded funding noncompetitively is not a denial of refunding 
and in no way limits the ability of that grantee to apply for funding.

[[Page 70024]]

    ACF acknowledges concerns about continuity of Head Start services 
and always seeks to minimize disruption in services to children and 
families. In cases in which a new grantee is selected as a result of 
recompetition, ACF believes that the transition generally will proceed 
without significant disruption of services to children and families in 
the community served. If ACF determines that a particular transition 
poses a risk of disruption of services, ACF may exercise its statutory 
authority to appoint an interim grantee in exceptional circumstances.

Proposed Sec.  1307.6--Tribal Government Consultation Under the 
Designation Renewal System for When an Indian Head Start Is Being 
Considered for Competition

    1. Comment: Many commenters expressed concern that there had not 
been appropriate Tribal consultation on the proposed regulation. Some 
commenters mentioned that all grantees should have the same process for 
Tribal programs. Commenters said that MSHS grantees and rural grantees 
especially should be allowed to comply with the same provisions as 
described for Tribal programs.
    Response: Because this rule simply implements the specific 
redesignation provisions related to Tribes that are required by the 
Act, the policies related to Tribal programs proposed in the NPRM are 
maintained.
    Regarding concerns about consultation, consistent with Executive 
Order 13175, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has 
established a Tribal Consultation Policy (Policy).
    This Policy affirms the authority of HHS to utilize notice and 
comment rulemaking as one form of consultation. ACF consulted with 
Tribes by raising the issues related to the Designation Renewal System 
at OHS Tribal consultations in 2009 and 2010 and by providing the 90-
day opportunity to submit comments on this NPRM.

Proposed Sec.  1307.7--Designation Request and Review Process. (Note 
that the proposed title of Sec.  1307.7 ``Designation request and 
review process'' has been changed to ``Designation request, review and 
notification process'' in the final rule.)

    1. Comment: Commenters raised concerns that requiring grantees to 
apply to have their funding renewed without competition is burdensome 
to grantees and could result in programs not being considered if they 
miss the deadline to submit the paperwork.
    Response: While ACF appreciates the comments on this provision, we 
are unable to change this provision because of the statutory 
requirement at Section 641(b) entitled ``Application for Designation 
Renewal'' which states ``to be considered for designation renewal, an 
entity shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time and 
in such manner as the Secretary may require.'' ACF has tried to make 
this requirement that grantees officially apply for designation renewal 
as least burdensome as possible. We have modified the final rule to 
only require that grantees submit their intent to be considered for 
designation renewal once during the transition period and during the 
period after the transition only once during the five year grant 
period.
    2. Comment: Commenters also expressed concern over the proposed 
three-year transition period and suggested that the transition period 
be lengthened to five years. Commenters suggested ACF make it clear 
that reviews under the Designation Renewal System taking place after 
the transition period focus on findings since the beginning of a 
grantee's current grant.
    Response: Since the transition period of three years is established 
under section 641(c)(9) of the Act, we do not have the authority to 
modify its length. Therefore, we have not made any changes to the 
timeframe of the transition period in the final regulation. After the 
transition period, the time periods for relevant data will be only 
within that five-year grant period, as explained in final Sec.  
1307.7(b)(3).
    3. Comment: Some commenters were confused about whether the 
designation review process was another on-site review separate from the 
on-site monitoring reviews required under section 641A(c)(1) of the 
Act.
    Response: In response to comments, ACF has amended this section to 
explain the process more clearly. We also note that the DRS review is 
separate from the monitoring reviews required under section 
641A(c)(1)(A), (C), or (D) of the Act. The language in final Sec.  
1307.7(b) explains that the DRS reviews under Part 1307 consist of an 
ACF review of data to determine if one or more of the conditions under 
Sec.  1307.3 had been met by the Head Start and Early Head Start 
agency's program. This DRS review is a review of all performance data 
available on a grantee, and is consistent with the focus on continuous 
program improvement by Head Start. It is not intended to comprise an 
additional on-site review, data from the monitoring reviews required 
under section 641A(c)(1)(A), (C), or (D) of the Act will be used in the 
DRS determination.
    Final Sec.  1307.7(b) also describes the data that will be reviewed 
by ACF for three distinct time periods. First, Sec.  1307.7(b)(1) 
explains that during the first year of the transition period, ACF will 
review the data on each Head Start and Early Head Start agency to 
determine if any of the conditions under final Sec.  1307.3(a) or (d)-
(g) (i.e., the five conditions excluding the school readiness goals and 
CLASS: Pre-K conditions) were met by the agency's program since June 
12, 2009. As explained previously, we have maintained the beginning 
date of June 12, 2009, on which data will be considered for the 
conditions described under final Sec.  1307.3(a) and (d)-(g) (proposed 
Sec.  1307.3(b)(1) and (4)-(7)). However we will not consider the 
school readiness condition described under Sec.  1307.3(b) (proposed 
Sec.  1307.3(b)(2)) during the timeframe that had been proposed in the 
NPRM. Instead, this condition will be applied using data beginning 
after the effective date of this part during the second year of the 
transition period, as explained below. We maintain the provision in the 
NPRM that we will use data for the condition described under final 
Sec.  1307.3(c) (proposed Sec.  1307.3(b)(3)) beginning on the 
effective date of this part but have changed the timing of when this 
will be used in the transition. In the final regulation, the results of 
the CLASS: Pre-K Instrument obtained in on-site reviews under Section 
641A of the Act after the effective date of the regulation will be used 
to determine if grantees will have to compete for further funding. For 
reasons already noted, we will use CLASS: Pre-K data in the second year 
of the transition.
    Then, during the remainder of the transition period, Sec.  
1307.7(b)(2) explains that ACF will review the data on each Head Start 
and Early Head Start agency still operating under grants with 
indefinite project periods and for whom ACF has relevant data on the 
conditions in Sec.  1307.3(a) through (g) to determine if any of the 
conditions under Sec.  1307.3(a) or (d) through (g) were met by the 
agency's program since June 12, 2009, or if the conditions under Sec.  
1307.3(b) or (c) existed in the agency's program since the effective 
date of this Part. This means, that over the course of the transition 
period, no program will receive a Head Start or Early Head Start grant 
automatically before being judged on all of the criteria. If a program 
meets one or more of the criteria, the program will have to compete to 
receive continued funding.

[[Page 70025]]

    The table below is provided to illustrate which criteria will be 
considered during the relevant periods.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1307.3 Conditions to be considered
                                        (specific provisions in 1307.3 have been
              Time period                 abbreviated in this table, see 1307.3     Designation renewal review
                                              for full text of conditions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year 1 of Transition..................  (a) A deficiency on a review conducted     Data on all grantees
                                         under Section 641A.                       will be reviewed.
                                        (d) Revocation of a License to Operate..   Those meeting any of
                                        (e) Suspension by OHS...................   the conditions of 1307.3(a),
                                        (f) Debarred from receiving state or       (d), (e), (f) or (g) from
                                         federal funds or Disqualified from        data collected since June 12,
                                         CACFP..                                   2009 will be required to
                                        (g) Audit finding of being at risk of      compete.
                                         failing to continue functioning as a      No grantees will be
                                         Going Concern..                           moved to five year grants non-
                                                                                   competitively this year.
Remainder of Transition...............  (a) A deficiency on a review conducted     All grantees still
                                         under Section 641A.                       under continuous grants and
                                        (b) Failure to establish program goals     that ACF has complete data on
                                         for improving the school readiness of     the conditions of 1307.3(b)-
                                         children and taking steps to achieve      (c) will have their data
                                         those school readiness goals..            reviewed to determine if they
                                        (c) Low CLASS scores as described in       meet those conditions since
                                         1307.3(c)..                               the effective date of this
                                        (d) Revocation of a License to Operate..   rule.
                                        (e) Suspension by OHS...................   All grantees still
                                        (f) Debarred from receiving state or       under continuous grants will
                                         federal funds or Disqualified from        have their data reviewed to
                                         CACFP..                                   determine if they meet the
                                        (g) Audit finding of being at risk of      conditions of 1307.3(a), (c),
                                         failing to continue functioning as a      (d), (e), (f) or (g) since
                                         Going Concern..                           June 12, 2009.
Five Year Grant Period................  (a) A deficiency on a review conducted     ACF will review the
                                         under Section 641A.                       data on each Head Start and
                                        (b) Failure to establish program goals     Early Head Start agency in
                                         for improving the school readiness of     the fourth year of the grant
                                         children and taking steps to achieve      to determine if any of the
                                         those school readiness goals..            conditions under Sec.
                                        (c) Low CLASS scores as described in       1307.3 existed in the
                                         1307.3(c)..                               agency's program during the
                                        (d) Revocation of a License to Operate..   period of that grant.
                                        (e) Suspension by OHS...................
                                        (f) Debarred from receiving state or
                                         federal funds or Disqualified from
                                         CACFP..
                                        (g) Audit finding of being at risk of
                                         failing to continue functioning as a
                                         Going Concern..
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We explain in Sec.  1307.7(b)(3) that following the transition 
period, ACF will review the data on each Head Start and Early Head 
Start agency in the fourth year of the grant to determine if any of the 
conditions under Sec.  1307.3 existed in the agency's program during 
the period of that grant.
    In final Sec.  1307.7(c), we explain the method ACF will follow to 
provide notice to grantees on their Designation Renewal System status 
during each of the time periods. We also note that this process does 
not apply for Tribal Head Start programs; the process for those 
grantees is described under Sec.  1307.6. In the NPRM, ACF proposed 
sending grantees a preliminary notice 6 months prior to the ending of 
their grant to indicate whether they would be required to recompete. In 
response to public comment, this provision has been removed from the 
final rule because it is not necessary and causes additional burden on 
ACF and grantees.
    In Sec.  1307.7(c)(1), we explain that during the first year of the 
transition period, ACF will give written notice to all grantees meeting 
any of the conditions under Sec.  1307.3(a) or (d)-(g) since June 12, 
2009, by certified mail return receipt requested or other system that 
establishes the date of receipt of the notice by the addressee, stating 
that the agency will be required to compete for funding for an 
additional five-year period. All other grantees that did not meet any 
of the conditions under Sec.  1307.3(a) or (d)-(g) will remain under 
indefinite project periods until the time period specified in Sec.  
1307.7(c)(2).
    In Sec.  1307.7(c)(2), we explain that during the remainder of the 
transition period, ACF will give written notice to all grantees still 
under grants with indefinite project periods on the conditions in Sec.  
1307.3(a)-(g) by certified mail return receipt requested or other 
system that establishes the date of receipt of the notice by the 
addressee. This written notice will state either that the agency will 
be required to compete for funding for an additional five-year period 
because ACF finds that one or more conditions under Sec.  1307.3 has 
been met during the relevant time period described in paragraph (b) of 
this section, will identify the conditions ACF found, and will 
summarize the basis for the finding or that such agency has been 
determined on a preliminary basis to be eligible for renewed funding 
for five years without competition because ACF finds that none of the 
conditions under Sec.  1307.3 have been met during the relevant time 
period described in paragraph (b) of this section. However, we specify 
that if prior to the award of that grant, ACF determines that the 
grantee has met one of the conditions, this determination will change 
and the grantee will receive notice that it will be required to compete 
for funding for an additional five-year period.
    In Sec.  1307.7(c)(3), we explain that following the transition 
period, ACF will give written notice to all grantees at least 12 months 
before the expiration date of an agency's five year grant period by 
certified mail return receipt requested or other system that 
establishes the date of receipt of the notice by the addressee, stating 
the same information described under Sec.  1307.7(b)(2). In addition, 
we specify that if prior to the award of that grant, ACF determines 
that the grantee has met one or more of the conditions, this 
determination will change and the grantee will receive notice that it 
will be required to compete for funding for an additional five-year 
period.

[[Page 70026]]

Proposed Sec.  1307.8--Use of CLASS: Pre-K Instrument in the 
Designation Renewal System

    1. Comment: Section 1307.8 specifically addresses the 
implementation of CLASS: Pre-K in the Designation Renewal System. Many 
commenters raised concerns that OHS does not follow the University of 
Virginia's protocol in its use of CLASS: Pre-K. These comments stated 
that ACF must adhere strictly to the protocol with respect to the 
number of observation cycles, length and frequency of observations and 
timing, and training of reviewers in order to maintain the integrity of 
the CLASS: Pre-K tool in monitoring.
    Response: ACF has worked with the developers in determining the 
most appropriate number of observations. Although the Classroom 
Assessment Scoring System manual describes that the recommended 
protocol for conducting CLASS observations is four cycles in each class 
that are each 30 minutes (i.e., 20-minute observe, 10 minute record), 
the University of Virginia (UVA) has advised ACF that four cycles with 
a single teacher, while appropriate for research, is not the best use 
of resources when ACF's objective is to get a picture of classroom 
quality at the grantee level. Instead, UVA has recommended a protocol 
that involves fewer cycles per teacher, but that includes more 
teachers. Given the importance of observing more classes, rather than 
fewer classes for a longer period of time, ACF will conduct two cycles 
in each class in the sample.
    Further, data from the HHS Family and Child Experiences Survey 
(FACES) study, which provides descriptive data on a nationally 
representative sample of three and four-year olds entering Head Start, 
reinforced ACF's decision to conduct two rather than four CLASS 
observations. FACES data indicates that four CLASS observations were 
not consistently conducted of all grantees, even though that was the 
intention in the study design. Attempting to conduct four observations 
in every monitoring review when it could not be accomplished in FACES, 
and doing so on a scale much larger than the FACES study, likely would 
result in differential treatment of grantees since some grantees would 
likely get four observations and others would get fewer. Given the 
importance of observing more classrooms, rather than fewer classrooms 
for a longer period of time, ACF will conduct two cycles in each 
classroom in the sample.
    2. Comment: A number of respondents also raised concerns regarding 
inconsistencies in how CLASS: Pre-K is used in monitoring and how 
reviewers conduct the observations. Grantees from a particular State 
relayed their experiences with a reviewer who did not follow the 
process specified in the CLASS: Pre-K protocol. Other respondents 
raised concern with the reliability of the CLASS: Pre-K instrument when 
it is used at different times during the day or year. These comments 
expressed concerns that grantees would be treated differently depending 
on the time of day or season of the review or observations at a certain 
point in time would not be a fair representation of classroom quality. 
These comments stated that CLASS: Pre-K scores were lower, for example, 
for programs reviewed in the spring than those reviewed in the winter. 
Others raised concerns about the continued reliability of the 
reviewers.
    Response: ACF has focused considerable attention on its 
implementation of the CLASS: Pre-K in the monitoring review system to 
ensure that CLASS: Pre-K observations are conducted consistently across 
monitoring reviews. In addition to developing a random sampling 
methodology, ACF has integrated ongoing training for CLASS: Pre-K 
reviewers to ensure their continued reliability, as well as a reviewer 
double coding process to assure the consistency of the implementation. 
``Double coding'' is a technical term that refers to the process of 
using two reviewers during observational measures to ensure that both 
reviewers reach the same conclusion, and it offers evidence of 
reliability and consistency. ACF also has made the determination that 
reviews will not be conducted in the first two and last two weeks of 
the program year, as well as the two weeks surrounding the winter 
holidays because grantees' classrooms when the program is beginning and 
concluding its year, and preparing for the winter break, is not 
representative of the environment during the program year. While ACF 
has made some adjustments for time of year, we believe strongly that 
children need to be in high-quality early childhood settings for the 
entire length of their day; thus, we will continue to conduct CLASS: 
Pre-K observations at any time throughout the day with the exception of 
naptime and outdoor unstructured free play. Since all programs will be 
observed at all points when they are operating, with the exception of 
nap time and outdoor free play, we are confident that this is a fair 
standard that will yield consistent results.
    3. Comment: Many respondents raised concerns about the sampling 
methodology used to determine which classrooms would be observed. 
Respondents requested clarification on the ``subset of classrooms'' 
referenced as the sample in the NPRM and urged that the sample be 
statistically valid.
    Response: ACF has worked with statisticians to develop a 
statistically sound methodology for sampling the center-based preschool 
classes of grantees that will be observed using CLASS: Pre-K. This 
methodology will select a random sample (subset) of each grantee's 
classes and that subset will be representative of the grantee. The 
sampling methodology ensures that a sufficient number of classes are 
selected from across the grantee's total classes; as a result, the 
resulting score will be generalizable to the grantee's total classes 
overall. This approach also was vetted through an external review 
process. For more information on ACF's sampling methodology, please 
reference the following link: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc. As 
noted previously, since ACF is implementing a significantly improved 
and more rigorous random sampling of each grantee's classes, 
determinations for designation renewal will be made based on the most 
recent CLASS: Pre-K observation, rather than the two most recent CLASS: 
Pre-K observations as was proposed in the NPRM.

VI. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule establishes new information collection requirements in 
Sec.  1307.4. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
codified at 44 U.S.C. 3507, ACF will submit a copy of these sections to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and they will not 
be effective until they have been approved and assigned a clearance 
number.

[[Page 70027]]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Average burden per
           Requirement                Respondents           Annual             respondent        Total burden
                                                                                (hours)              hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Sec.   1307.4, Head Start     20-40 grantees....  1 hour or less....  1 hour or less....  20-40 hours.
 and Early Head Start agencies
 must report in writing to the
 responsible HHS official within
 30 working days of the
 effective date of this Part if
 the agency has had a revocation
 of a license to operate a
 center by a State or local
 licensing entity during the
 period between June 12, 2009
 and the effective date of this
 Part.
Following the effective date of
 this Part, Head Start and Early
 Head Start agencies must report
 to ACF within 10 working days
 of occurrence of any of the
 following:
    (1) The agency has had a
     license to operate a center
     revoked by a State or local
     licensing entity.
    (2) The agency has filed for
     bankruptcy or agreed to a
     reorganization plan as part
     of a bankruptcy settlement.
    (3) The agency has been
     debarred from receiving
     Federal or State funds from
     any Federal or State agency
     or has been disqualified
     from The Child and Adult
     Care Food Program (CACFP).
    (4) The agency has received
     an audit, audit review,
     investigation or inspection
     report from the agency's
     auditor, a State agency, or
     the cognizant Federal audit
     agency containing a
     determination that the
     agency is at risk of
     failing to function as a
     going concern.
Per section 1307.7(a) each Head   1,600 grantees....  1 hour or less....  1 hour or less....  1,600 hours.
 Start or Early Head Start
 agency wishing to be renewed
 for five years without
 competition shall request that
 status from ACF.
Agencies required to compete      480 grantees......  40 hours..........  40 hours..........  19,200 hours.
 will have to complete
 applications consistent with
 the criteria at 1307.5.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the NPRM we estimated the costs of implementing these 
requirements to be approximately $481,000 annually across all 1,600 
grantees. This estimate includes approximately $1,000 across all 
grantees and $480,000 across those grantees that are required to submit 
competitive applications.
    We do not anticipate that Head Start agencies will be gathering new 
information to accomplish these changes. They only will be required to 
inform ACF if one of four events specified in Sec.  1307.4 has 
occurred.
    In the NPRM, ACF asked for public comments on collection of 
information in the following areas:
    (a) Evaluating whether the proposed collection is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of ACF, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    (b) Evaluating the accuracy of ACF's estimate of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and the assumptions used;
    (c) Enhancing the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (d) Minimizing the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    We received some comments regarding the reporting requirements 
proposed in Sec.  1307.4, which explained the grantee reporting 
requirements concerning certain conditions. In the NPRM, we had 
proposed that Head Start agencies must report in writing to the 
designated ACF official within 10 working days of the occurrence any of 
the following events: (1) The agency has had a revocation of a license 
to operate a center by a State or local licensing entity; (2) the 
agency has filed for bankruptcy or agreed to a reorganization plan as 
part of a bankruptcy settlement; (3) the agency has been debarred from 
receiving Federal or State funds from any Federal or State department 
or agency or has been disqualified from the Child and Adult Care Food 
Program (CACFP); and (4) The agency has received an audit, audit 
review, investigation or inspection report from the agency's auditor, a 
State agency, or the cognizant Federal audit agency containing a 
determination that the agency is at risk for ceasing to be a going 
concern. The specific concerns with this

[[Page 70028]]

proposed provision included: That it was an undue burden on programs to 
provide this information, that ACF had not made clear what it intends 
to do with this information and why it requires agencies to report, 
that ACF had underestimated the cost to grantees of the reporting 
requirements, and that ACF should be able to collect this information. 
ACF has considered these comments and will maintain this provision in 
the final regulation requiring grantees to report to ACF on these four 
conditions. ACF believes that each of these conditions is a serious 
problem and that ACF should know about the occurrence as soon as 
possible so that appropriate action can be taken. The most efficient 
method for ACF to learn of these conditions is to require grantees to 
report them directly. As stated in the preamble to Sec.  1307.4, the 
reporting timelines remain unchanged.
    Commenters also stated that requiring grantees to apply to have 
their funding renewed without competition is burdensome to grantees and 
could result in programs not being considered if they miss the deadline 
to submit the paperwork. As indicated earlier in this preamble, while 
ACF appreciates the comments on this provision, we are unable to change 
this provision because of the statutory requirement at section 641(b) 
which states ``to be considered for designation renewal, an entity 
shall submit an application to the Secretary.'' ACF has tried to make 
this as least burdensome as possible and has modified the final rule to 
only require grantees to submit their intent once during the transition 
period and once during the five year grant period. Consistent with 
comments received on the burden of preparing applications for 
competitions, ACF has added an estimate of 40 hours of burden for the 
roughly one-third of grantees that will be required to compete. This 
has increased the burden estimate significantly.

VII. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Secretary certifies that, under 5 U.S.C. 605(b), as enacted by 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (Pub. L. 96-354), this rule will not 
result in a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. The actions required of grantees to comply with the 
reporting, recordkeeping, and other requirements of this rule do not 
require significant expenditures of funds.
    Specifically, as noted under the Paperwork Reduction Act section of 
this preamble, we estimate the cost of implementing new reporting 
requirements to be approximately $481,000 annually, which when applied 
to all 1,600 grantees nationally, results in a cost per grantee of less 
than $300. This reflects approximately $1,000 in reporting requirements 
across all grantees for the unusual events such as debarment or license 
revocation and the estimated 480,000 in costs associated with 
competitive applications for those grantees required to compete. As in 
the NPRM, this assumes that agencies would not be gathering any new 
information, since such information would have to be known to grantees 
in order to efficiently manage their programs. In addition, only a 
subset of the 1,600 grantees will be required to compete for renewal of 
a grant under these regulations. We estimate that roughly one-third of 
grantees reviewed in a review cycle will be affected by the regulation. 
Those grantees that need to compete for another five-year grant are 
required to submit an application. Since all grantees currently are 
required to submit a refunding application each year for their 
noncompetitive grant, there only will be an incremental increase in 
costs for grantees that must prepare and submit a competitive 
application. We estimate those costs to be less than $3,000 for each 
grantee submitting a competitive application. In developing this 
estimate, we assumed that it would take 40 hours for two senior level 
staff and one administrative staff person to complete a refunding 
application. Further, we assumed that grantees could spend more than 
twice as much time preparing this competitive application as they do on 
their regular annual refunding application.
    These rules primarily are intended to ensure accountability for 
Federal funds consistent with the purposes of the Head Start Act, to 
ensure that communities receive the highest quality services available, 
and are not duplicative of other requirements. In developing this rule, 
we sought to implement the new and expanded requirements of the Head 
Start Act in a manner that does not impinge on a small entity's ability 
to design and manage effective and responsive Head Start programs. At 
the same time, we sought to focus renewed attention on strengthening 
accountability for Head Start programs and increasing program quality 
and improving outcomes for low-income families. We believe this rule 
implements the aims of the Head Start Act, as amended, to improve the 
effectiveness of Head Start programs while preserving Head Start 
grantees' abilities to continue using creativity and innovation to 
promote the school readiness of children from low-income families. In 
the NPRM, we had requested public comments on whether we have 
adequately considered all costs for small entities and achieved the 
balance described above. We received comments that we under-estimated 
the costs associated with the application. In response, we have 
increased the estimate significantly to assure we are adequately 
reflecting the potential costs.

VIII. Regulatory Impact Analysis

    Executive Orders 13563 and 12866 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 in particular emphasizes the importance of quantifying both 
costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of 
promoting flexibility. The Department has determined that this rule is 
consistent with these priorities and principles.
    These regulations primarily implement statutory changes to the Head 
Start program enacted in the Improving Head Start for School Readiness 
Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-134). ACF does not believe there will be a 
significant economic impact from this regulatory action. We estimate 
that roughly one-third of grantees reviewed in each review cycle will 
be affected by the regulation. The costs of implementation of these 
rules for the subset of grantees that would be required to compete in 
any year (estimated to be no more than $1,500 for each grantee), the 
total cost per year resulting from this regulation is well under $1 
million. This rule has been designated a ``significant regulatory 
action'' although not economically significant, under section 3(f) of 
Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, the rule has been reviewed by the 
Office of Management and Budget.
    These regulations are also consistent with section 6 of Executive 
Order 13563, which directs agencies to engage in ``periodic review of 
existing significant regulations'' and to ``promote retrospective 
analysis of rules.'' These regulations grow out of a careful process of 
review and retrospective analysis, and hence are part of a general 
effort, in HHS and government-wide, to improve regulatory programs as a 
result of ``what has been learned.''

[[Page 70029]]

IX. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires 
that a covered agency prepare a budgetary impact statement before 
promulgating a rule that includes any Federal mandate that may result 
in the expenditure by State, local, and Tribal governments, in the 
aggregate, or by the private sector, of $136 million or more in any one 
year. If an agency must prepare a budgetary impact statement, section 
205 requires that it select the most cost-effective and least 
burdensome alternative that achieves the objectives of the rule 
consistent with the statutory requirements. Section 203 requires a plan 
for informing and advising any small government that may be 
significantly or uniquely impacted. The Department has determined that 
this rule, in implementing the new statutory requirements, would not 
impose a mandate that will result in the expenditure by State, local, 
and Tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of 
more than $136 million in any one year.

X. Congressional Review

    This regulation is not a major rule as defined in 5 U.S.C. chapter 
8.

XI. Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132, Federalism, requires that Federal agencies 
consult with State and local government officials in the development of 
regulatory policies with federalism implications. This rule will not 
have substantial direct impact on the States, on the relationship 
between the National Government and the States, or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. 
Therefore, in accordance with section 6 of Executive Order 13132, it is 
determined that this rule does not have sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant the preparation of a federalism summary impact 
statement.

XII. Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act of 1999

    Section 654 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 105-277) requires Federal agencies to issue a 
Family Policymaking Assessment for any rule that may affect family 
well-being. This rule would not have any impact on the autonomy or 
integrity of the family as an institution. Accordingly, ACF has 
concluded that it is not necessary to prepare a Family Policymaking 
Assessment.

List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 1307

    Education of disadvantaged, Grant programs--social programs.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Programs Number 93.600, Head 
Start)

    Dated: September 8, 2011.
George H. Sheldon,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.

    Approved: September 30, 2011.
Kathleen Sebelius,
Secretary.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, we amend 45 CFR Chapter 
XIII by adding part 1307 to read as follows:

PART 1307--POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DESIGNATION RENEWAL OF HEAD 
START AND EARLY HEAD START GRANTEES

Sec.
1307.1 Purpose and scope.
1307.2 Definitions.
1307.3 Basis for determining whether a Head Start agency will be 
subject to an open competition.
1307.4 Grantee reporting requirements concerning certain conditions.
1307.5 Requirements to be considered for designation for a five-year 
period when the existing grantee in a community is not determined to 
be delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program 
and is not automatically renewed.
1307.6 Tribal government consultation under the Designation Renewal 
System for when an Indian Head Start grant is being considered for 
competition.
1307.7 Designation request, review and notification process.
1307.8 Use of CLASS: Pre-K Instrument in the Designation Renewal 
System.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 9801 et seq.

Sec.  1307.1  Purpose and scope.

    The purpose of this Part is to set forth policies and procedures 
for the designation renewal of Head Start and Early Head Start 
programs. It is intended that these programs be administered 
effectively and responsibly; that applicants to administer programs 
receive fair and equitable consideration; and that the legal rights of 
current Head Start and Early Head Start grantees be fully protected. 
The Designation Renewal System is established in this Part to determine 
whether Head Start and Early Head Start agencies deliver high-quality 
services to meet the educational, health, nutritional, and social needs 
of the children and families they serve; meet the program and financial 
requirements and standards described in section 641A(a)(1) of the Head 
Start Act; and qualify to be designated for funding for five years 
without competing for such funding as required under section 641(c) of 
the Head Start Act with respect to Head Start agencies and pursuant to 
section 645A(b)(12) and (d) with respect to Early Head Start agencies. 
A competition to select a new Head Start or Early Head Start agency to 
replace a Head Start or Early Head Start agency that has been 
terminated voluntarily or involuntarily is not part of the Designation 
Renewal System established in this Part, and is subject instead to the 
requirements of part 1302.

Sec.  1307.2  Definitions.

    As used in this Part--
    ACF means the Administration for Children and Families in the 
Department of Health and Human Services.
    Act means the Head Start Act, 45 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.
    Agency means a public or private non-profit or for-profit entity 
designated by ACF to operate a Head Start or Early Head Start program.
    Aggregate child-level assessment data means the data collected by 
an agency on the status and progress of the children it serves that 
have been combined to provide summary information about groups of 
children enrolled in specific classrooms, centers, home-based or other 
options, groups or settings, or other groups of children such as dual 
language learners, or to provide summary information by specific 
domains of development.
    Child-level assessment data means the data collected by an agency 
on an individual child from one or more valid and reliable assessments 
of a child's status and progress, including but not limited to direct 
assessment, structured observations, checklists, staff or parent report 
measures, and portfolio records or work samples.
    Early Head Start agency means a public or private non-profit or 
for-profit entity designated by ACF to operate an Early Head Start 
program to serve pregnant women and children from birth to age three, 
pursuant to section 645A(e) of the Head Start Act.
    Going concern means an organization that operates without the 
threat of liquidation for the foreseeable future, a period of at least 
12 months.
    Head Start agency means a local public or private non-profit or 
for-profit entity designated by ACF to operate a Head Start program to 
serve children age three to compulsory school age, pursuant to section 
641(b) and (d) of the Head Start Act.
    School readiness goals mean the expectations of children's status 
and

[[Page 70030]]

progress across domains of language and literacy development, cognition 
and general knowledge, approaches to learning, physical well-being and 
motor development, and social and emotional development that will 
improve their readiness for kindergarten.
    Transition period means the three-year time period after December 
9, 2011, on the Designation Renewal System during which ACF will 
convert all of the current continuous Head Start and Early Head Start 
grants into five-year grants after reviewing each grantee to determine 
if it meets any of the conditions under section 1307.3 that require 
recompetition or if the grantee will receive its first five-year grant 
non-competitively.

Sec.  1307.3  Basis for determining whether a Head Start agency will be 
subject to an open competition.

    A Head Start or Early Head Start agency shall be required to 
compete for its next five years of funding whenever the responsible HHS 
official determines that one or more of the following seven conditions 
existed during the relevant time period covered by the responsible HHS 
official's review under Sec.  1307.7 of this part:
    (a) An agency has been determined by the responsible HHS official 
to have one or more deficiencies on a single review conducted under 
section 641A(c)(1)(A), (C), or (D) of the Act in the relevant time 
period covered by the responsible HHS official's review under section 
1307.7.
    (b) An agency has been determined by the responsible HHS official 
based on a review conducted under section 641A(c)(1)(A), (C), or (D) of 
the Act during the relevant time period covered by the responsible HHS 
official's review under Sec.  1307.7 not to have:
    (1) After December 9, 2011, established program goals for improving 
the school readiness of children participating in its program in 
accordance with the requirements of section 641A(g)(2) of the Act and 
demonstrated that such goals:
    (i) Appropriately reflect the ages of children, birth to five, 
participating in the program;
    (ii) Align with the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning 
Framework, State early learning guidelines, and the requirements and 
expectations of the schools, to the extent that they apply to the ages 
of children, birth to five, participating in the program and at a 
minimum address the domains of language and literacy development, 
cognition and general knowledge, approaches toward learning, physical 
well-being and motor development, and social and emotional development;
    (iii) Were established in consultation with the parents of children 
participating in the program.
    (2) After December 9, 2011, taken steps to achieve the school 
readiness goals described under paragraph (b)(1) of this section 
demonstrated by:
    (i) Aggregating and analyzing aggregate child-level assessment data 
at least three times per year (except for programs operating less than 
90 days, which will be required to do so at least twice within their 
operating program period) and using that data in combination with other 
program data to determine grantees' progress toward meeting its goals, 
to inform parents and the community of results, and to direct 
continuous improvement related to curriculum, instruction, professional 
development, program design and other program decisions; and
    (ii) Analyzing individual ongoing, child-level assessment data for 
all children birth to age five participating in the program and using 
that data in combination with input from parents and families to 
determine each child's status and progress with regard to, at a 
minimum, language and literacy development, cognition and general 
knowledge, approaches toward learning, physical well-being and motor 
development, and social and emotional development and to individualize 
the experiences, instructional strategies, and services to best support 
each child.
    (c) An agency has been determined during the relevant time period 
covered by the responsible HHS official's review under Sec.  1307.7:
    (1) After December 9, 2011, to have an average score across all 
classrooms observed below the following minimum thresholds on any of 
the three CLASS: Pre-K domains from the most recent CLASS: Pre-K 
observation:
    (i) For the Emotional Support domain the minimum threshold is 4;
    (ii) For the Classroom Organization domain, the minimum threshold 
is 3;
    (iii) For the Instructional Support domain, the minimum threshold 
is 2;
    (2) After December 9, 2011, to have an average score across all 
classrooms observed that is in the lowest 10 percent on any of the 
three CLASS: Pre-K domains from the most recent CLASS: Pre-K 
observation among those currently being reviewed unless the average 
score across all classrooms observed for that CLASS: Pre-K domain is 
equal to or above the standard of excellence that demonstrates that the 
classroom interactions are above an exceptional level of quality. For 
all three domains, the ``standard of excellence'' is a 6.
    (d) An agency has had a revocation of its license to operate a Head 
Start or Early Head Start center or program by a State or local 
licensing agency during the relevant time period covered by the 
responsible HHS official's review under Sec.  1307.7 of this part, and 
the revocation has not been overturned or withdrawn before a 
competition for funding for the next five-year period is announced. A 
pending challenge to the license revocation or restoration of the 
license after correction of the violation shall not affect application 
of this requirement after the competition for funding for the next 
five-year period has been announced.
    (e) An agency has been suspended from the Head Start or Early Head 
Start program by ACF during the relevant time period covered by the 
responsible HHS official's review under Sec.  1307.7 of this part and 
the suspension has not been overturned or withdrawn. If there is a 
pending appeal and the agency did not have an opportunity to show cause 
as to why the suspension should not have been imposed or why the 
suspension should have been lifted if it had already been imposed under 
45 CFR part 1303, the agency will not be required to compete based on 
this condition. If an agency has received an opportunity to show cause, 
the condition will be implemented regardless of appeal status.
    (f) An agency has been debarred from receiving Federal or State 
funds from any Federal or State department or agency or has been 
disqualified from the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) any 
time during the relevant time period covered by the responsible HHS 
official's review under Sec.  1307.7 of this part but has not yet been 
terminated or denied refunding by ACF. (A debarred agency will only be 
eligible to compete for Head Start funding if it receives a waiver 
described in 2 CFR 180.135.)
    (g) An agency has been determined within the twelve months 
preceding the responsible HHS official's review under Sec.  1307.7 of 
this part to be at risk of failing to continue functioning as a going 
concern. The final determination is made by the responsible HHS 
official based on a review of the findings and opinions of an audit 
conducted in accordance with section 647 of the Act; an audit, review 
or investigation by a State agency; a review by the National External 
Audit Review (NEAR) Center; or an audit, investigation or inspection by 
the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector 
General:

[[Page 70031]]

Sec.  1307.4  Grantee reporting requirements concerning certain 
conditions.

    (a) Head Start agencies must report in writing to the responsible 
HHS official within 30 working days of December 9, 2011, if the agency 
has had a revocation of a license to operate a center by a State of 
local licensing entity during the period between June 12, 2009, and 
December 9, 2011.
    (b) Head Start agencies must report in writing to the responsible 
HHS official within 10 working days of occurrence any of the following 
events following December 9, 2011:
    (1) The agency has had a revocation of a license to operate a 
center by a State or local licensing entity.
    (2) The agency has filed for bankruptcy or agreed to a 
reorganization plan as part of a bankruptcy settlement.
    (3) The agency has been debarred from receiving Federal or State 
funds from any Federal or State department or agency or has been 
disqualified from the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
    (4) The agency has received an audit, audit review, investigation 
or inspection report from the agency's auditor, a State agency, or the 
cognizant Federal audit agency containing a determination that the 
agency is at risk for ceasing to be a going concern.

Sec.  1307.5  Requirements to be considered for designation for a five-
year period when the existing grantee in a community is not determined 
to be delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program 
and is not automatically renewed.

    In order to compete for the opportunity to be awarded a five-year 
grant, an agency must submit an application to the responsible HHS 
official that demonstrates that it is the most qualified entity to 
deliver a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start or Early Head Start 
program. The application must address the criteria for selection listed 
at section 641(d)(2) of the Act for Head Start. Any agency that has had 
its Head Start or Early Head Start grant terminated for cause in the 
preceding five years is excluded from competing in such competition for 
the next five years. A Head Start or Early Head Start agency that has 
had a denial of refunding, as defined in 45 CFR 1303.2, in the 
preceding five years is also excluded from competing.

Sec.  1307.6  Tribal government consultation under the Designation 
Renewal System for when an Indian Head Start grant is being considered 
for competition.

    (a) In the case of an Indian Head Start or Early Head Start agency 
determined not to be delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head 
Start or Early Head Start program, the responsible HHS official will 
engage in government-to-government consultation with the appropriate 
Tribal government or governments for the purpose of establishing a plan 
to improve the quality of the Head Start program or Early Head Start 
program operated by the Indian Head Start or Indian Early Head Start 
agency.
    (1) The plan will be established and implemented within six months 
after the responsible HHS official's determination.
    (2) Not more than six months after the implementation of that plan, 
the responsible HHS official will reevaluate the performance of the 
Indian Head Start or Early Head Start agency.
    (3) If the Indian Head Start or Early Head Start agency is still 
not delivering a high quality and comprehensive Head Start or Early 
Head Start program, the responsible HHS official will conduct an open 
competition to select a grantee to provide services for the community 
currently being served by the Indian Head Start or Early Head Start 
agency.
    (b) A non-Indian Head Start or Early Head Start agency will not be 
eligible to receive a grant to carry out an Indian Head Start program, 
unless there is no Indian Head Start or Early Head Start agency 
available for designation to carry out an Indian Head Start or Indian 
Early Head Start program.
    (c) A non-Indian Head Start or Early Head Start agency may receive 
a grant to carry out an Indian Head Start program only until such time 
as an Indian Head Start or Indian Early Head Start agency in such 
community becomes available and is designated pursuant to this Part.

Sec.  1307.7  Designation request, review and notification process.

    (a) Grantees must apply to be considered for Designation Renewal
    (1) For the transition period, each Head Start or Early Head Start 
agency wishing to be considered to have their designation as a Head 
Start or Early Head Start agency renewed for a five year period without 
competition shall request that status from ACF within six months of 
December 9, 2011.
    (2) After the transition period, each Head Start or Early Head 
Start agency wishing to be considered to have their designation as a 
Head Start or Early Head Start agency renewed for another five year 
period without competition shall request that status from ACF at least 
12 months before the end of their five year grant period or by such 
time as required by the Secretary.
    (b) ACF will review the relevant data to determine if one or more 
of the conditions under Sec.  1307.3 of this part were met by the Head 
Start and Early Head Start agency's program:
    (1) During the first year of the transition period, ACF shall 
review the data on each Head Start and Early Head Start agency to 
determine if any of the conditions under Sec.  1307.3(a) or (d) through 
(g) of this part were met by the agency's program since June 12, 2009.
    (2) During the remainder of the transition period, ACF shall review 
the data on each Head Start and Early Head Start agency still under 
grants with indefinite project periods and for whom ACF has relevant 
data on all of the conditions in Sec.  1307.3(a) through (g) of this 
part to determine if any of the conditions under Sec.  1307.3(a) or (d) 
through (g) were met by the agency's program since June 12, 2009, or if 
the conditions under Sec.  1307.3(b) or (c) existed in the agency's 
program since December 9, 2011.
    (3) Following the transition period, ACF shall review the data on 
each Head Start and Early Head Start agency in the fourth year of the 
grant to determine if any of the conditions under Sec.  1307.3 of this 
partexisted in the agency's program during the period of that grant.
    (c) ACF will give notice to grantees on Designation Renewal System 
status, except as provided in Sec.  1307.6 of this part:
    (1) During the first year of the transition period, ACF shall give 
written notice to all grantees meeting any of the conditions under 
Sec.  1307.3(a) or (d) through (g) of this part since June 12, 2009, by 
certified mail return receipt requested or other system that 
establishes the date of receipt of the notice by the addressee, stating 
that the Head Start or Early Head Start agency will be required to 
compete for funding for an additional five-year period, identifying the 
conditions ACF found, and summarizing the basis for the finding. All 
grantees that do not meet any of the conditions under Sec.  1307.3(a) 
or (d) thorugh (g) will remain under indefinite project periods until 
the time period described under Sec.  1307.7(b)(2).
    (2) During the remainder of the transition period, ACF shall give 
written notice to all grantees still under grants with indefinite 
project periods and on the conditions in Sec.  1307.3(a) through (g) by 
certified mail return receipt requested or other system that 
establishes the date of receipt of the notice by the addressee stating 
either:
    (i) The Head Start or Early Head Start agency will be required to 
compete for funding for an additional five-year period because ACF 
finds that one or more conditions under Sec.  1307.3(a) through (g) has 
been met during the

[[Page 70032]]

relevant time period described in paragraph (b) of this section, 
identifying the conditions ACF found, and summarizing the basis for the 
finding; or
    (ii) That such agency has been determined on a preliminary basis to 
be eligible for renewed funding for five years without competition 
because ACF finds that none of the conditions under Sec.  1307.3 of 
this part have been met during the relevant time period described in 
paragraph (b) of this section. If prior to the award of that grant, ACF 
determines that the grantee has met one of the conditions under Sec.  
1307.3 during the relevant time period described in paragraph (b) of 
this section, this determination will change and the grantee will 
receive notice under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section that it will 
be required to compete for funding for an additional five-year period.
    (3) Following the transition period, ACF shall give written notice 
to all grantees at least 12 months before the expiration date of a Head 
Start or Early Head Start agency's then current grant by certified mail 
return receipt requested or other system that establishes the date of 
receipt of the notice by the addressee, stating:
    (i) The Head Start or Early Head Start agency will be required to 
compete for funding for an additional five-year period because ACF 
finds that one or more conditions under Sec.  1307.3 of this part were 
met by the agency's program during the relevant time period described 
in paragraph (b) of this section, identifying the conditions ACF found, 
and summarizing the basis for the finding; or
    (ii) That such agency has been determined on a preliminary basis to 
be eligible for renewed funding for five years without competition 
because ACF finds that none of the conditions under Sec.  1307.3 have 
been met during the relevant time period described in paragraph (b) of 
this section. If prior to the award of that grant, ACF determines that 
the grantee has met one of the conditions under Sec.  1307.3 during the 
relevant time period described in paragraph (b) of this section, this 
determination will change and the grantee will receive notice under 
paragraph (c)(3)(i) of this section that it will be required to compete 
for funding for an additional five-year period.

Sec.  1307.8  Use of CLASS: Pre-K Instrument in the Designation Renewal 
System.

    Except when all children are served in a single classroom, ACF will 
conduct observations of multiple classes operated by the grantee based 
on a random sample of all classes and rate the conduct of the classes 
observed using the CLASS: Pre-K instrument. When the grantee serves 
children in its program in a single class, that class will be observed 
and rated using the CLASS: Pre-K instrument. The domain scores for that 
class will be the domain scores for the grantee for that observation. 
After the observations are completed, ACF will report to the grantee 
the scores of the classes observed during the CLASS: Pre-K observations 
in each of the domains covered by the CLASS: Pre-K instrument. ACF will 
average CLASS: Pre-K instrument scores in each domain for the classes 
operated by the agency that ACF observed to determine the agency's 
score in each domain.

[FR Doc. 2011-28880 Filed 11-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
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