2011 Hot Spots — #3, Head Start Re-Competition

A continuation of our predictions of big issues for 2011…

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will issue final rules for “re-competition” this year. (Comments were due on December 21 after the department issued a proposal in the Federal Register.) The re-competition program – officially known as the Designation Renewal System – may require 25 percent of Head Start programs to re-apply for funding that, until now, was nearly guaranteed (with the exception of instances of real financial problems).  The department has proposed to determine which programs fall into that 25-percent group by examining data on how well the programs have performed since June 12, 2009. Will that proposal become cemented in regulations? Or will there be significant changes based on comments from the Head Start community – many members of which have criticized the 25-percent number as an arbitrary cut-off point?

With so many Head Start programs likely to be re-applying for funding, could these changes spur localities and school districts to build high-quality early learning systems that feature more collaboration and blended funding between different providers? Will we see specific Head Start programs held up as models? There are many unanswered questions, but the hope is that programs will continue to ramp up quality not only in their bookkeeping but more importantly in the learning experiences they provide for the children in their care.

Next up: Hot Spot #4: Teacher Evaluation