Terms of the
previous clearances remain in effect. In accordance with 5 C.F.R.
1320, the information collection is not approved at this time.
Prior to publication of the final rule, the agency should provide
to OMB a summary of all comments received on the proposed
information collection and identify any changes made in response to
these comments.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
08/31/2016
36 Months From Approved
01/31/2017
41,440
0
41,440
1,737,618
0
1,737,618
0
0
0
Head Start Performance Standards are
the result of a legislative mandate to administer a high quality
comprehensive child development program that serves low-income
pregnant women, infants and toddlers, preschoolers and their
families. The information collection aspects of the Performance
Standards are a part of the many actions that local agencies must
take to ensure they administer quality programs for Head Start
children and families. It is important to note that the information
collection items included in the Performance Standards are mostly
record-keeping requirements for local Head Start programs; these
records are intended to act as a tool for grantees and delegate
agencies to be used in their day-to-day operations. Such records
are maintained by the grantees and delegate agencies and are not
information items that must be collected and forwarded to the
Federal government. Of course, programs are monitored for overall
compliance with the Performance Standards, including the
record-keeping aspects. In the Improving Head Start for School
Readiness Act of 2007, Congress instructed the Office of Head Start
to update its performance standards by regulation and "ensure that
any such revisions in the standards do not result in the
elimination of or any reduction in quality, scope, or types of
health, educational, parental involvement, nutritional, social, or
other services." This NPRM revises the Head Start program
performance standards, last revised in 1998, to meet Congress's
requirements and improve the quality of Head Start. The proposed
program performance standards will improve the quality of services,
reduce bureaucratic burden on programs, and improve regulatory
clarity and transparency. They provide a clear road map for current
and prospective grantees to provide high quality Head Start
services and to strengthen the outcomes of the children and
families they serve. The following collections are new information
collections proposed within the NPRM: • Section 1303.20-24, in
paragraph (b), we propose information collections related to the
protection for the privacy of child records. Programs must collect
parental written consent before disclosing personally identifiable
information from child records, must provide an annual notice that
notify parents of their rights described in §1303.20 through
1303.24, applicable definitions in 1305, and a description of PII
that may be disclosed without parental consent, and programs must
maintain, with each child's record, a list of all individuals,
agencies, or organizations that have requested or obtained access
to PII from child records and their expressed interests. • Section
1302.33, in paragraph (c)(2), we propose a new requirement to
codify best practice in assessing dual language learners.
Specifically, we require programs to assess dual language learners
in the language or languages that best capture their skill level
that in some cases requires programs to administer language
assessments to dual language learners in both their home language
and English, utilizing an interpreter as needed. This proposal
reflects best practice already used by many Head Start programs and
research that demonstrates that children who are dual language
learners have different learning experiences across their two
languages. • Section 1302.90, we propose to strengthen background
check procedures by requiring both state/local/tribal and federal
criminal background checks, as well as clearance through available
child abuse and neglect and sex offender registries. Making this
requirement consistent with the Office of Child Care's requirement
will minimize burden on programs that operate with both Head Start
and Child Care Development Funds. Additionally, we propose to
require programs perform background checks every five years for
current staff. This will increase the record-keeping burden related
to criminal record checks.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Supporting statement 0970-0148 5-19-15.docx
42 C.F.R. 1304 Head Start Program Performance Standards