[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68443-68444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19051]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Head Start 
Program Performance Standards (Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-
0148)

AGENCY: Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families, 
U.S. 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). 
On August 21, 2024, the Office of Head Start (OHS) published a final 
rule: Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality 
Programming. This information collection contains changes to 
recordkeeping requirements as described in this final rule.

DATES: Comments due within 30 days of publication. OMB must make a 
decision about the collection of information between 30 and 60 days 
after publication of this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, 
a comment is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it 
within 30 days of publication.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. You can 
also obtain copies of the proposed collection of information by 
emailing [email protected]. Identify all emailed 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 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. On August 21, 2024, OHS published a final rule, 
Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming 
(89 FR 67720). This information collection contains changes to 
recordkeeping requirements as described in this final rule.
    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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Annual number  Average annual
                   Instrument                      Annual number   of responses    burden hours    Annual burden
                                                  of respondents  per respondent   per response        hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maintain written impasse procedures for                    2,900               1             0.7           2,030
 resolving internal disputes....................
Documenting eligibility.........................         260,000               1            0.25          65,000
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.................
Obtain child developmental screenings and                800,000               1               1         800,000
 conduct standardized and structured assessment
 for individualizations.........................
Dual Language Learners Assessment...............         269,000               1               2         538,000
Obtain determinations of child health status,            800,000               1            0.66         528,000
 source of health care, and identify each
 child's 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.....................................
Maintenance of plan to prevent exposure to lead            1,900               1             0.5             950
 in water and paint.............................
Waiver to family service worker assignment                   190               1               1             190
 ratios.........................................
Joint agreements, procedures, or contracts with            2,900               1           0.166             481
 community organizations and memorandum of
 understanding with the appropriate local entity
 responsible for managing publicly funded
 preschool programs in the service area of the
 program........................................
Documenting services to enrolled pregnant women.          13,000               1             0.5            6500
Tracking wages for Head Start staff and staff in           2,900               1               5          14,500
 local school districts.........................
Criminal record checks..........................          74,000               1            0.33          24,420
Ensure all staff has an initial health                    25,000               1            0.25           6,250
 examination and periodic re-examination........
Regular 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.....................................
If deficient, EHS or HS program submits Quality              100               1              10           1,000
 Improvement Plan...............................
Reporting child incidents.......................             131               1           0.083              11

[[Page 68444]]

 
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................
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               9          26,100
 procedures that promote implementation of Head
 Start standards in the program.................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,526,034.
    Authority: Section 641A of the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. 9836A.

Mary C. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-19051 Filed 8-23-24; 8:45 am]
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