Tag Archives: Federal Announcements

Compliance Date for Head Start Background Check

Posted on by

12/6/2016

The Office of Head Start will delay the compliance date for background checks procedures described in the Head Start Program Performance Standards final rule that was published in the Federal Register on September 6, 2016. We are taking this action to afford programs more time to implement systems that meet the background checks procedures and to align with deadlines for states complying with background check requirements found in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act of 2014.

Source: Federal Register

Available at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/12/06/2016-29183/head-start-program

ACF Announces Proposed Changes to Child Care Regulations

Posted on by

May 16, 2013

Keeping Children Safe and Helping Families Find Quality Child Care
-by Shannon Rudisill, Office of Child Care Director

As a working mom, I know how hard it is to find good child care so that I can have some peace of mind when I come  to work.   At ACF, we’ve been working hard to strengthen the nation’s child care system so that  moms and dads, especially moms and dads with the fewest resources,  can have better child care choices while they work to support their families.

In his 2013 State of the Union address, President Obama made a historic commitment to young children, making it a priority to ensure that “none of our children start the race of life already behind.”  Improving child care is an important part of this effort and a key component of the President’s Plan for Early Education for All Americans.

Today, HHS announces a big new step in this direction –  new proposed regulations for the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), which is administered here at the Office of Child Care. CCDF supports 1.6 million children in child care each month and invests over $1 billion each year in quality improvements like teacher training and grants to child care programs. All over the country, child care providers are dedicated to preparing children for school success. Despite the terrific efforts of public and private organizations around the country, there are some critical gaps in our child care programs. Some children are in child care settings that don’t meet basic health and safety standards. Often, there is a lack of useful comparative information for parents choosing child care. The new regulations are intended to close some of those gaps…

Source: Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ/news/acf-announces-proposed-changes-to-child-care-regulations

45 CFR 1301 Head Start Grant Administration. Proposed Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

Posted on by

12/13/11

The Office of Head Start is proposing to renew without changes authority to collect information pursuant to 45 CFR part 1301. These provisions are applicable to program administration and grants administration under the Head Start Act, as amended. The provisions specify the requirements for grantee agencies for insurance and bonding, the submission of audits, matching of federal funds, accounting systems certifications and other provisions applicable to personnel management.

Source: Federal Register

Available at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-12-13/html/2011-31876.htm

Applicant Information – Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge

Posted on by

11/18/11

As part of its commitment to transparency in governance, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services are providing the public with applications of the 35 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico applying to the Race to the Top—Early Learning Challenge program. We will also be posting the appendices, reviewers’ scores and comments when they become available. A minimal amount of personal information has been redacted from the applications.

Source: U.S. Department of Education

Available at: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-earlylearningchallenge/applicant.html

Statement from Secretary Sebelius on National Native American Heritage Month

Posted on by

11/7/11

This month we celebrate National Native American Heritage Month, to honor American Indians and Alaska Natives who have contributed a great deal to our country.  I recently had the opportunity to visit Indian Country in Alaska and I can say first hand that Native Americans are passionate, determined people who play a momentous role in enriching the spirit of our Nation.

They are among some of America’s most significant authors, artists, scientists, and political leaders. And they have fought to protect this country as members of our Armed Forces. Native Americans have long demonstrated their commitment to advancing the common goals of this Nation, and we honor their resolve in the face of years of marginalization and broken promises.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Available at: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/11/20111107a.html

HHS announces refined survey standards to examine and help eliminate differences in care based on race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, or disability

Posted on by

10/31/11

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today released final standards to more consistently measure race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, and disability status, thereby improving the ability to highlight disparities in health status and target interventions to reduce these disparities.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Available at: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/10/20111031b.html

35 States, D.C. and Puerto Rico Submit Applications for the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge | U.S. Department of Education

Posted on by

The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services announced today that 35 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico submitted applications for the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge, a $500 million state-level competitive grant program to improve early learning and development. Applicants include: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Source: U.S. Department of Education

Available at: http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/35-states-dc-and-puerto-rico-submit-applications-race-top-early-learning-challen

via 35 States, D.C. and Puerto Rico Submit Applications for the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge | U.S. Department of Education.

Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities

Posted on by

9/28/11

The Secretary issues final regulations governing the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities. These regulations are needed to reflect changes made to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as amended by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (Act or IDEA).

Source: Federal Register, Volume 76 Issue 188

Available at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-28/html/2011-22783.htm

Presidential Proclamation — National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Posted on by

8/31/11

Since the 1970s, the rate of childhood obesity in our country has tripled, and today a third of American children are overweight or obese.  This dramatic rise threatens to have far‑reaching, long-term effects on our children’s health, livelihoods, and futures.  Without major changes, a third of children born in the year 2000 will develop Type 2 diabetes during their lifetimes, and many others will face obesity‑related problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma.  As a Nation, our greatest responsibility is to ensure the well-being of our children.  By taking action to address the issue of childhood obesity, we can help America’s next generation reach their full potential.

Source: The White House

Available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/08/31/presidential-proclamation-national-childhood-obesity-awareness-month

President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics

Posted on by

9/21/11

This notice sets forth the schedule and agenda of the second meeting of the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, which is subject to Congressional approval and passage of the fiscal year 2012 budget. The notice also describes the functions of the Commission. Notice of the meeting is required by section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and intended to notify the public of its opportunity to attend.

Dates and times: Thursday, Oct. 6 1-5 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 7  9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Source: Federal Register, Volume 76 Issue 183

Available at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-21/html/2011-24153.htm