[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 96 (Thursday, May 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42884-42885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10682]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Head Start Program 
Performance Standard (Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0148)

AGENCY: Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families, 
Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is 
requesting a 3-year extension of the information collection 
requirements under the Head Start Program Performance Standards (Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) #0970-0148, expiration August 31, 2024). 
At this time, there are no changes to the approved recordkeeping 
requirements under this OMB number. However, a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking on Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent 
Quality Programming was published and if any of the proposed changes 
are made final, this information collection will be updated to reflect 
those changes.

DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with 
the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is 
soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information 
collection described above.

ADDRESSES: You can obtain copies of the proposed collection of 
information and submit comments by emailing [email protected]. 
Identify all requests by the title of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Description: Section 641A of the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. 9836A, 
directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to 
develop ``scientifically based and developmentally appropriate 
education performance standards related to school readiness'' 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 information collection is entirely record keeping and 
does not contain any standardized instruments to provide flexibility 
for local programs. These records are intended to act as a tool for 
grantees and delegate agencies to be used in their day-to-day 
operations. For example, this includes the requirement that programs 
maintain a waiting list of eligible families. There are currently no 
changes to the record keeping requirements. However, if any proposed 
changes from the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Supporting the Head 
Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming (88 FR 80818), this 
information collection will be updated to reflect those changes.
    Respondents: Head Start grant recipients. Depending on the 
standard, the calculated burden hours is based on the individual 
enrollee, family, grant, program, or staff. In a few cases, only a 
proportion of one of these may apply.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                                   Annual number  Average annual
                   Instrument                      Annual number   of responses    burden hours    Annual burden
                                                  of respondents  per respondent   per response        hours
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Impasse procedures..............................           2,900               1             0.7           2,030
Documenting eligibility.........................         260,000               1           0.166          43,160
Maintain a waiting list.........................           2,900               1               2           5,800
Track attendance................................           2,900               1               5          14,500
Written plan to support program participation                150               1               1             150
 following temporary suspension.................
Child developmental screenings and assessment...         800,000               1               1         800,000
Dual Language Learners Assessment...............         269,000               1               2         538,000
Obtain child health status, source of health             800,000               1            0.66         528,000
 care, and nutritional health needs.............
Documents lack of available funds for assessment           2,900               1             0.5           1,450
 and treatment..................................
Maintaining records on the administration of               2,900               1             0.5           1,450
 medication.....................................
Joint agreements, procedures, or contracts with            2,900               1           0.166             481
 community organizations and memorandum of
 understanding with local entity................
Criminal record checks..........................          74,000               1            0.33          24,420
Ensure staff initial health examination and               25,000               1            0.25           6,250
 periodic re-examination........................
Volunteer screening for tuberculosis............           2,900               1           0.166             481
Maintain automated accounting and recordkeeping            2,900               1              79         229,100
 system and collect and use data to monitor
 program performance and continuous improvement,
 and conduct a self-assessment and community
 assessment.....................................
Quality Improvement Plan........................             100               1              10           1,000
Submit proof of coverage........................           2,900               1           0.166             481
Parental Consent, Annual Notice, and                     723,000               1            0.33         238,590
 Recordkeeping of PII Disclosure................

[[Page 42885]]

 
Applications for the purchase, construction, or              250               1              40          10,000
 renovation of facilities; record retention and
 submission of documents on facilities..........
Waiver request..................................             200               1               1             200
Up-to-date child rosters and lists of adults               2,900               1               2           5,800
 each child is authorized to be released to are
 maintained.....................................
Agencies required to compete will have to                     75               1              60           4,500
 complete an application for each grant competed
Each Head Start or Early Head Start agency                   400               1            0.25             100
 wishing to be renewed for 5 years without
 competition shall request that status from ACF.
Updating program and personnel policies and                2,900               1               7          20,300
 procedures that promote implementation of Head
 Start standards................................
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,476,243.
    Comments: The Department specifically requests comments on (a) 
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection 
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted 
within 60 days of this publication.
    Authority: Section 641A of the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. 9836A.

Mary C. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-10682 Filed 5-15-24; 8:45 am]
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