AUTHORIZATION:

Head Start Act, Public Law 110-134, 42 U.S.C 9801.

OBJECTIVES:

To promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of low-income children, including children on federally recognized reservations and children of migratory farm workers, through the provision of comprehensive health, educational, nutritional, social and other services; and to involve parents in their children's learning and to help parents make progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals. Head Start also emphasizes the significant involvement of parents in the administration of their local Head Start programs.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

At least 90 percent of the enrollees in a program must be income eligible; i.e. from families whose income is below the poverty line, from families receiving public assistance, from homeless families or children in foster care. Programs may, however, if they can demonstrate they are serving all of the income eligible families in their service area, propose to serve up to 45 percent (49 percent for American Indian/Alaska Native programs) of their children from families not meeting the income eligibility requirements. Training and technical assistance grants are available to Head Start programs.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Any government, federally-recognized Indian tribe, or public or private nonprofit or for profit agency which meets the requirements may apply for a grant. However, application will be considered only when submitted in response to a specific announcement, published via the Internet at the following website address: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_hsb.html, which solicits proposals to establish new Head Start Programs. Grantee agencies may subcontract with other child-serving agencies to provide services to Head Start children.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Head Start/Early Head Start programs are for children from birth up to the age when the child enters the school system; however, Head Start programs only serve pre-school age children. (i.e. children three or four years old) while Early Head Start programs serve children from birth through age three. No less than 10 percent of each Head Start program's enrollment shall be for children with disabilities.

Credentials/Documentation:   Nonprofit organizations must submit proof of nonprofit status. Applicable costs and administrative procedures will be determined in accordance with Part 74 and 92 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Pre-application Coordination:   Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:   This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. The Office of Head Start will provide each applicant agency with a completed check list form showing exactly which items must be completed by each applicant and delegate agency.

Award Procedure:   All funds are awarded directly to the grantees. Funds for local Head Start/Early Head Start programs, including a portion of training and technical assistance funds, are awarded by the Office of Head Start's Regional Offices. Funds for the following are awarded by the Central Office of Head Start: American Indian/Alaskan Native programs; Migrant programs; research, demonstration and evaluation efforts and some training and technical assistance efforts.

Deadlines:   Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   

From 90 to 120 days. This, depending on the nature of the proposal, can vary considerably from 90 days to as much as several months.

Appeals:   

Grantees who are denied refunding may appeal adverse decisions to the HHS Departmental Appeals Board. There is no appeal for new grants denials.

Renewals:   

From 90 to 120 days. OHS Headquarters or Regional Offices will inform grantees of the application procedures for renewal.

	back to top

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   

This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: Percent: 20.%.
This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   

Funds are available for a 12-month budget period. Funds are released by monthly allowance on an Electronic Transfer System or by monthly check. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Annual information on the types of children served and the services provided. No cash reports are required. No progress reports are required. Semi-annual spending reports. At least once every three years every agency is monitored. New grantees are monitored after their first year in operation.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR, Parts 74 and 92.

Records:   Grantee must maintain an accounting system adequate to meet the purposes of the grant. Requirements for records are found in 45 CFR, Part 74 and 92.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:  

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations:   (Project Grants) FY 08 $6,877,975,000; FY 09 est $7,112,786,000; FY 10 est $7,234,783,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  

136,000-200,351,000; 4,300,000.

	back to top