1. (a) Authority to designate

   1. (1) In general The Secretary is authorized to designate as a Head Start agency any local public or private nonprofit agency, including community-based and faith-based organizations, or for-profit agency, within a community, pursuant to the requirements of this section.
   2. (2) Interim policy Notwithstanding paragraph (1), until such time as the Secretary develops and implements the system for designation renewal under this section, the Secretary is authorized to designate as a Head Start agency, any local public or private nonprofit agency, including community-based and faith-based organizations, or for-profit agency, within a community, in the manner and process utilized by the Secretary prior to December 12, 2007.
2. (b) Application for designation renewal 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.

3. (c) System for designation renewal

   1. (1) In general The Secretary shall develop a system for designation renewal that integrates the recommendations of the expert panel convened under paragraph (2) 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, and meets program and financial management requirements and standards described in section 9836a(a)(1) of this title, based on—

      1. (A) annual budget and fiscal management data;
      2. (B) program reviews conducted under section 9836a(c) of this title;
      3. (C) annual audits required under section 9842 of this title;
      4. (D) classroom quality as measured under section 9836a(c)(2)(F) of this title; and
      5. (E) Program Information Reports.
   2. (2) Expert panel Not later than 3 months after December 12, 2007, the Secretary shall convene an expert panel of 7 members to make recommendations to the Secretary on the development of a transparent, reliable, and valid system for designation renewal.

   3. (3) Composition of expert panel The Secretary, in convening such panel, shall appoint the following:

      1. (A)

         1. (i) One member, who has demonstrated competency, as evidenced by training, expertise, and experience, in early childhood program accreditation.
         2. (ii) One member, who has demonstrated competency (as so evidenced) in research on early childhood development.
         3. (iii) One member, who has demonstrated competency (as so evidenced) in governance and finance of nonprofit organizations.
         4. (iv) One member, who has demonstrated competency (as so evidenced) in delivery of services to populations of children with special needs and their families.
         5. (v) One member, who has demonstrated competency (as so evidenced) in assessment and evaluation of programs serving young children.
      2. (B) An employee from the Office of Head Start.
      3. (C) An executive director of a Head Start agency.
   4. (4) Expert panel report Within 9 months after being convened by the Secretary, the expert panel shall issue a report to the Secretary that provides recommendations on a proposed system for designation renewal that takes into account the criteria in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (1) to evaluate whether a Head Start agency is fulfilling its mission to deliver a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program, including adequately meeting its governance, legal, and financial management requirements.
   5. (5) Public comment and consideration Not later than 3 months after receiving the report described in paragraph (4), the Secretary shall publish a notice describing a proposed system for designation renewal in the Federal Register, including a proposal for the transition to such system, providing at least 90 days for public comment. The Secretary shall review and consider public comments prior to finalizing the system for designation renewal described in this subsection.

   6. (6) Designation renewal system Not later than 12 months after publishing a notice describing the proposed system under paragraph (5), the Secretary shall implement the system for designation renewal and use that system to determine—

      1. (A) whether a Head Start grantee is successfully delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program; and
      2. (B) whether the grantee has any unresolved deficiencies found during the last triennial review under section 9836a(c) of this title.

   7. (7) Implementation of the designation renewal system

      1. (A) In general A grantee who is determined under such system—

         1. (i) to be delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program shall be designated (consistent with section 9838 of this title) as a Head Start agency for the period of 5 years described in section 9833 of this title;
         2. (ii) to not be delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program shall be subject to an open competition as described in subsection (d); and
         3. (iii) in the case of an Indian Head Start agency, to not be delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program shall (notwithstanding clause (ii)) be subject to the requirements of subparagraph (B).
      2. (B) Tribal government consultation and reevaluation On making a determination described in subparagraph (A)(iii), the Secretary shall 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 Head Start programs operated by the Indian Head Start agency. Such plan shall be established and implemented within 6 months after the Secretary’s determination. Not more than 6 months after the implementation of that plan, the Secretary shall reevaluate the performance of the Indian Head Start agency. If the Indian Head Start agency is still not delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program, the Secretary shall conduct an open competition as described in subsection (d), subject to the limitations described in subsection (e).
   8. (8) Transparency, reliability, and validity The Secretary shall ensure the system for designation renewal is fair, consistent, and transparent and is applied in a manner that renews designations, in a timely manner, grantees as Head Start agencies for periods of 5 years if such grantees are delivering high-quality and comprehensive Head Start programs. The Secretary shall periodically evaluate whether the criteria of the system are being applied in a manner that is transparent, reliable, and valid.

   9. (9) Transition

      1. (A) In general Each Head Start agency shall be reviewed under the system for designation renewal described in paragraph (6), not later than 3 years after the implementation of such system.
      2. (B) Limitation A Head Start agency shall not be subject to the requirements of the system for designation renewal prior to 18 months after December 12, 2007.
      3. (C) Schedule The Secretary shall establish and implement a schedule for reviewing each Head Start agency under the system for designation renewal described in paragraph (6), consistent with subparagraphs (A) and (B).

   10. (10) Reports to Congress The Secretary shall—

       1. (A) make available to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate the report described in paragraph (4);
       2. (B) concurrently with publishing a notice in the Federal Register as described in paragraph (5), provide a report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate that provides a detailed description of the proposed system described in paragraph (5), including a clear rationale for any differences between the proposed system and the recommendations of the expert panel, if any such differences exist; and

       3. (C) prior to implementing the system for designation renewal, provide a report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate—

          1. (i) summarizing the public comment on the proposed system and the Secretary’s response to such comment; and
          2. (ii) describing the final system for designation renewal and the plans for implementation of such system.

4. (d) Designation when no entity is renewed

   1. (1) In general If no entity in a community is determined to be successfully delivering a high-quality and comprehensive Head Start program, as specified in subsection (c), the Secretary shall, after conducting an open competition, designate for a 5-year period a Head Start agency from among qualified applicants in such community.

   2. (2) Considerations for designation In selecting from among qualified applicants for designation as a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall consider the effectiveness of each such applicant to provide Head Start services, based on—

      1. (A) any past performance of such applicant in providing services comparable to Head Start services, including how effectively such applicant provided such comparable services;
      2. (B) the plan of such applicant to provide comprehensive health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services needed to aid participating children in attaining their full potential, and to prepare children to succeed in school;
      3. (C) the plan of such applicant to attract and retain qualified staff capable of delivering, including implementing, a high-quality and comprehensive program, including the ability to carry out a research based curriculum aligned with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and, as appropriate, State early learning standards;
      4. (D) the ability of such applicant to maintain child-to-teacher ratios and family service worker caseloads that reflect best practices and are tied to high-quality service delivery;

      5. (E) the capacity of such applicant to serve eligible children with—

         1. (i) curricula that are based on scientifically valid research, that are developmentally appropriate, and that promote the school readiness of children participating in the program involved; and
         2. (ii) teaching practices that are based, as appropriate, on scientifically valid research, that are developmentally appropriate, and that promote the school readiness of children participating in the program involved;
      6. (F) the plan of such applicant to meet standards described in section 9836a(a)(1) of this title, with particular attention to the standards described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section;
      7. (G) the proposed budget of the applicant and plan of such applicant to maintain strong fiscal controls and cost-effective fiscal management;

      8. (H) the plan of such applicant to coordinate and collaborate with other public or private entities providing early childhood education and development programs and services for young children in the community involved, including—

         1. (i) preschool programs under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.);
         2. (ii) programs under section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
         3. (iii) State prekindergarten programs;
         4. (iv) child care programs;
         5. (v) the educational programs that the children in the Head Start program involved will enter at the age of compulsory school attendance; and

         6. (vi) local entities, such as a public or school library, for—

            1. (I) conducting reading readiness programs;
            2. (II) developing innovative programs to excite children about the world of books, including providing fresh books in the Head Start classroom;
            3. (III) assisting in literacy training for Head Start teachers; or
            4. (IV) supporting parents and other caregivers in literacy efforts;
      9. (I) the plan of such applicant to coordinate the Head Start program that the applicant proposes to carry out, with public and private entities that are willing to commit resources to assist the Head Start program in meeting its program needs;

      10. (J) the plan of such applicant—

          1. (i) to facilitate the involvement of parents (including grandparents and kinship caregivers, as appropriate) of children participating in the proposed Head Start program, in activities (at home and, if practicable, at the location of the Head Start program) designed to help such parents become full partners in the education of their children;
          2. (ii) to afford such parents the opportunity to participate in the development and overall conduct of the program at the local level, including transportation assistance, as appropriate;

          3. (iii) to offer (directly or through referral to local entities, public and school libraries, and entities carrying out family support programs) to such parents—

             1. (I) family literacy services; and
             2. (II) parenting skills training;
          4. (iv) to offer to parents of participating children substance abuse counseling (either directly or through referral to local entities), if needed, including information on the effect of drug exposure on infants and fetal alcohol syndrome;

          5. (v) at the option of such applicant, to offer (directly or through referral to local entities) to such parents—

             1. (I) training in basic child development (including cognitive, social, and emotional development);
             2. (II) assistance in developing literacy and communication skills;
             3. (III) opportunities to share experiences with other parents (including parent-mentor relationships);
             4. (IV) regular in-home visitation;
             5. (V) health services, including information on maternal depression; or
             6. (VI) any other activity designed to help such parents become full partners in the education of their children;
          6. (vi) to provide, with respect to each participating family, a family needs assessment that includes consultation with such parents (including foster parents, grandparents, and kinship caregivers, where applicable), in a manner and language that such parents can understand, to the extent practicable, about the benefits of parent involvement and about the activities described in this subparagraph in which such parents may choose to become involved (taking into consideration their specific family needs, work schedules, and other responsibilities); and

          7. (vii) to extend outreach to fathers (including father figures), in appropriate cases, in order to strengthen the role of those fathers in families, in the education of young children, and in the Head Start program, by working directly with the fathers through activities such as—

             1. (I) in appropriate cases, including the fathers in home visits and providing opportunities for direct father-child interactions; and
             2. (II) targeting increased male participation in the conduct of the program;
      11. (K) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of limited English proficient children and their families, including procedures to identify such children, plans to provide trained personnel, and plans to provide services to assist the children in making progress toward the acquisition of the English language, while making meaningful progress in attaining the knowledge, skills, abilities, and development described in section 9836a(a)(1)(B) of this title;
      12. (L) the plan of such applicant to meet the diverse needs of the population served;
      13. (M) the plan of such applicant who chooses to assist younger siblings of children who will participate in the Head Start program to obtain health services from other sources;
      14. (N) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of children with disabilities, including procedures to identify such children, procedures for referral of such children for evaluation to State or local agencies providing services under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.), and plans for collaboration with those State or local agencies;
      15. (O) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of homeless children, including transportation needs, and the needs of children in foster care; and
      16. (P) other factors related to the requirements of this subchapter.
   3. (3) Priority In selecting from among qualified applicants for designation as a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that have demonstrated capacity in providing effective, comprehensive, and well-coordinated early childhood education and development services and programs to children and their families.

5. (e) Prohibition against non-Indian Head Start agency receiving a grant for an Indian Head Start program

   1. (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided in paragraph (2), under no condition may a non-Indian Head Start agency receive a grant to carry out an Indian Head Start program.
   2. (2) Exception In a community in which there is no Indian Head Start agency available for designation to carry out an Indian Head Start program, a non-Indian Head Start agency may receive a grant to carry out an Indian Head Start program but only until such time as an Indian Head Start agency in such community becomes available and is designated pursuant to this section.
6. (f) Interim provider If no agency in a community is designated under subsection (d), and there is no qualified applicant in the community, the Secretary shall designate a qualified agency to carry out the Head Start program in the community on an interim basis until a qualified applicant from the community is designated under subsection (d).
7. (g) Parent and community participation The Secretary shall require that the practice of significantly involving parents and community residents in the area affected by the program involved, in the selection of Head Start agencies, be continued.
8. (h) Community For purposes of this subchapter, a community may be a city, county, or multicity or multicounty unit within a State, an Indian reservation (including Indians in any off-reservation area designated by an appropriate tribal government in consultation with the Secretary), or a neighborhood or other area (irrespective of boundaries or political subdivisions) that provides a suitable organizational base and possesses the commonality of interest needed to operate a Head Start program.

(Pub. L. 97–35, title VI, § 641, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 501; Pub. L. 98–558, title I, § 104, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2878; Pub. L. 101–501, title I, §§ 107, 108, Nov. 3, 1990, 104 Stat. 1229, 1230; Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(e)(1), (f)–(h), Oct. 7, 1992, 106 Stat. 1957; Pub. L. 103–252, title I, § 107, May 18, 1994, 108 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 105–285, title I, § 107, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2712; Pub. L. 108–446, title III, § 305(l)(3), Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2806; Pub. L. 110–134, § 7, Dec. 12, 2007, 121 Stat. 1378; Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(nn)(2), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2176.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(H)(i), is Pub. L. 89–10, Apr. 11, 1965, 79 Stat. 27. Title I of the Act is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 6301 et seq.) of chapter 70 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6301 of Title 20 and Tables.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(H)(ii), (N), is title VI of Pub. L. 91–230, Apr. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 175. Part C of the Act is classified generally to subchapter III (§ 1431 et seq.) of chapter 33 of Title 20, Education. Section 619 of the Act is classified to section 1419 of Title 20. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1400 of Title 20 and Tables.

Amendments

Subsec. (d)(2)(H)(i). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(nn)(2)(A), redesignated cl. (ii) as (i), struck out “other” before “preschool programs” and substituted “the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965” for “that Act”, and struck out former cl. (i) which read as follows: “programs implementing grant agreements under the Early Reading First and Even Start programs under subparts 2 and 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6371 et seq., 6381 et seq.);”.

Subsec. (d)(2)(H)(ii) to (vii). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(nn)(2)(A)(ii), redesignated cls. (iii) to (vii) as (ii) to (vi), respectively. Former cl. (ii) redesignated (i).

Subsec. (d)(2)(J)(iii). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(nn)(2)(B), struck out “, such as entities carrying out Even Start programs under subpart 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6381 et seq.)” after “local entities” in introductory provisions.

2007—Pub. L. 110–134 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to authorization of and prerequisites for designation of Head Start agencies in subsec. (a), definition of community in subsec. (b), priority in administration of section provisions in subsec. (c), designation in community without entity entitled to priority and qualified applicants in subsec. (d), designation on interim basis in subsec. (e), involvement of parents and area residents in selection of agencies in subsec. (f), and priority for nonprofit agencies and applicants with demonstrated capacity in subsec. (g).

2004—Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 108–446 substituted “U.S.C. 1431–1444” for “U.S.C 1431–1445”.

1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(1), inserted “or for-profit” after “nonprofit” and “(in consultation with the chief executive officer of the State involved, if such State expends non-Federal funds to carry out Head Start programs)” after “Secretary” in cl. (2).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(2), substituted “off-reservation area designated by an appropriate tribal government in consultation with the Secretary” for “area designated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as near-reservation”.

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(3)(A), inserted “, in consultation with the chief executive officer of the State involved if such State expends non-Federal funds to carry out Head Start programs,” after “Secretary shall” and “or for-profit” after “nonprofit” and substituted “determines that the agency involved fails to meet program and financial management requirements, performance standards described in section 9836a(a)(1) of this title, results-based performance measures developed by the Secretary under section 9836a(b) of this title, or other requirements established by the Secretary” for “makes a finding that the agency involved fails to meet program, financial management, and other requirements established by the Secretary”.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(3)(B), (C), inserted “, in consultation with the chief executive officer of the State if such State expends non-Federal funds to carry out Head Start programs,” after “Secretary shall” and realigned margins.

Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(3)(C), realigned margins.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(A), inserted in introductory provisions “In selecting from among qualified applicants for designation as a Head Start agency, the Secretary shall give priority to any qualified agency that functioned as a Head Start delegate agency in the community and carried out a Head Start program that the Secretary determines met or exceeded such performance standards and such results-based performance measures.”

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(B), inserted “and programs under part C and section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C 1431–1445, 1419)” after “(20 U.S.C. 2741 et seq.)”.

Subsec. (d)(4)(A). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(i), inserted “(at home and in the center involved where practicable)” after “activities”.

Subsec. (d)(4)(D). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(v), added subpar. (D). Former subpar. (D) redesignated (E).

Subsec. (d)(4)(D)(iii). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(ii)(I), inserted “or” at end.

Subsec. (d)(4)(D)(iv), (v). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(ii)(II), (III), redesignated cl. (v) as (iv) and struck out former cl. (iv) which read as follows: “substance abuse counseling; or”.

Subsec. (d)(4)(E). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(iv), redesignated subpar. (D) as (E). Former subpar. (E) redesignated (F).

Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(iii), substituted “, (D), and (E)” for “and (D)”.

Subsec. (d)(4)(F). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(C)(iv), redesignated subpar. (E) as (F).

Subsec. (d)(7). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(D), amended par. (7) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (7) read as follows: “the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of non-English language background children and their families in the community; and”.

Subsec. (d)(8) to (10). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(4)(E)–(G), added pars. (8) and (10) and redesignated former par. (8) as (9).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(5), added subsec. (e) and struck out former subsec. (e) which read as follows: “If, in a community served by a Head Start program, there is no applicant qualified for designation as a Head Start agency to carry out such program, the Secretary may appoint an interim grantee to carry out such program until a qualified applicant is so designated.”

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 105–285, § 107(6), added subsec. (g).

1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(a), inserted “(including Indians in any area designated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as near-reservation)” after “Indian reservation”.

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(b)(2), (3), (5), inserted “(subject to paragraph (2))” after “the provisions of this section”, struck out subpar. (A), inserted “the Secretary makes a finding that the agency involved fails to meet program, financial management, and other requirements established by the Secretary.” after “unless”, and redesignated subpar. (B) as par. (2) and concluding provisions as par. (3).

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(b)(1), (3), (4), (6), redesignated par. (1)(B) as (2) and realigned margins, substituted “If” for “except that, if” and “paragraph (1)” for “subparagraph (A)”, and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows:

“(2)(A) The Secretary shall conduct a full review of each designated Head Start agency at least once during each 3-year period, and shall determine whether each agency meets program and fiscal requirements established by the Secretary.

“(B) The Secretary shall conduct a review of each newly designated Head Start agency immediately after the completion of the first year such agency carries out a Head Start program.

“(C) The Secretary shall conduct followup reviews of Head Start agencies when appropriate.”

Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(b)(1), (5), redesignated concluding provisions of par. (1) as (3), substituted “this subsection” for “this paragraph”, and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: “In carrying out a review of each Head Start agency under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall—

“(A) to the maximum extent practicable, carry out such review by using employees of the Department of Health and Human Services who are knowledgeable about Head Start programs;

“(B) ensure that an employee of the Department of Health and Human Services who is knowledgeable about Head Start programs supervises such review at the site of such agency;

“(C) measure the compliance of the programs of such agency with the performance standards in effect under section 9846(b) of this title; and

“(D) identify the types and conditions of facilities in which such programs are located.”

Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(b)(1), struck out par. (4) which read as follows: “The results of a review conducted under this subsection shall not be sufficient alone for the purpose of determining whether to continue, or to discontinue, providing funds to a particular Head Start agency.”

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(1)–(3)(A), in introductory provisions substituted “If no entity in a community is entitled to the priority specified in subsection (c) of this section,” for “If there is no Head Start agency as described in subsection (c)(2) of this section, and no existing Head Start program serving a community,” and struck out “Any such designation shall be governed by the program and fiscal requirements, criteria, and standards applicable on September 1, 1983, to then existing Head Start agencies.” after first sentence and “subject to the preceding sentence” after “as a Head Start agency”.

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(3)(B), inserted “, including Even Start programs under part B of chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2741 et seq.),” after “preschool programs”.

Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(3)(C), amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: “the plan of such applicant to involve parents of children who will participate in the proposed Head Start program in appropriate educational services (in accordance with the performance standards in effect under section 9846(b) of this title or through referral of such parents to educational services available in the community) in order to aid their children to attain their full potential;”.

Subsec. (d)(7). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(4), substituted “non-English language background children and their families” for “non-English language children” and inserted “and” after semicolon.

Subsec. (d)(8), (9). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(c)(5), (6), redesignated par. (9) as (8) and struck out former par. (8) which read as follows: “the plan of such applicant to provide (directly or through referral to educational services available in the community) parents of children who will participate in the proposed Head Start program with child development and literacy skills training in order to aid their children to attain their full potential; and”.

Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 103–252, § 107(d), redesignated subsec. (g) as (f) and struck out former subsec. (f) which read as follows: “The provisions of subsections (c), (d), and (e) of this section shall be applied by the Secretary in the distribution of any additional appropriations made available under this subchapter during any fiscal year as well as to initial designations of Head Start agencies.”

1992—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(e)(1), inserted at end “Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, the Secretary shall not give such priority to any agency with respect to which financial assistance has been terminated, or an application for refunding has been denied, under this subchapter by the Secretary after affording such agency reasonable notice and opportunity for a full and fair hearing in accordance with section 9841(a)(3) of this title.”

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(f), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpars. (B) and (C).

Subsec. (d)(8), (9). Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(g), added pars. (8) and (9).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(h)(3), added subsec. (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f).

Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(h)(1), substituted “(c), (d), and (e)” for “(c) and (d)”.

Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(h)(2), redesignated subsecs. (e) and (f) as (f) and (g), respectively.

1990—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–501, § 107, designated existing provisions as par. (1), redesignated former par. (1) as subpar. (A), added subpar. (B) and pars. (2) to (4), and struck out former par. (2) and last sentence which read as follows:

“(2) except that if there is no such agency because of any change in the assistance furnished to programs for economically disadvantaged persons, then the Secretary shall give priority in the designation of Head Start agencies to any successor agency which is operated in substantially the same manner as the predecessor agency which did receive funds in the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the determination is made.

The provisions of clause (2) shall apply only to agencies actually operating Head Start programs.”

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–501, § 108, inserted at end “In selecting from among qualified applicants for designation as a Head Start agency and subject to the preceding sentence, the Secretary shall consider the effectiveness of each such applicant to provide Head Start services, based on—” and pars. (1) to (7).

1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(a), inserted “, within a community,” after “private nonprofit agency”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(b)(1), substituted “unless” for “, except that” in provisions preceding cl. (1).

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(b)(2), (3), substituted “makes a finding” for “shall, before giving such priority, determine” and “fails to meet” for “meet”.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(b)(4), inserted “except that” before “if”.

Subsecs. (d) to (f). Pub. L. 98–558, § 104(c), added subsecs. (d) and (e) and redesignated former subsec. (d) as (f).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Education and Labor of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Education and the Workforce of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–252 effective May 18, 1994, but not applicable to Head Start agencies and other recipients of financial assistance under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) until Oct. 1, 1994, see section 127 of Pub. L. 103–252, set out as a note under section 9832 of this title.

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–401, § 2(e)(2), Oct. 7, 1992, 106 Stat. 1957, provided that:

“The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply only with respect to terminations of financial assistance, and denials of refunding, occurring after

July 29, 1992.”

Amendment by section 2(f)–(h) of Pub. L. 102–401 effective Oct. 7, 1992, but not applicable with respect to fiscal years beginning before Oct. 1, 1992, and amendment by section 2(e)(1) of Pub. L. 102–401 effective July 30, 1992, see section 4 of Pub. L. 102–401, set out as a note under section 9835 of this title.

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–501 effective Oct. 1, 1990, see section 1001(a) of Pub. L. 101–501, set out as a note under section 8621 of this title.

Head Start Designation Renewal System

Pub. L. 116–159, div. D, title IV, § 4401, Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 743, provided that:

“Notwithstanding section 638 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9833), if the Secretary of Health and Human Services—

1. “(1) is required to make a determination under paragraph (6) of section 641(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 9836a(c) [sic, probably should be “42 U.S.C. 9836(c)”]) whether to renew the designation of a Head Start agency for which such determination under the schedule developed pursuant to paragraph (9)(C) of such section 641(c) is required to be made before December 31, 2020; and
2. “(2) cannot make such determination in accordance with such schedule because the Secretary lacks any information described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (E) of section 641(c)(1) of such Act required for the purpose of making such determination;

then before December 31, 2020, the Secretary shall extend for not more than 2 years the 5-year period otherwise applicable to the designation of such Head Start agency under such Act [42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.].”