Head Start 2007 Reauthorization
The President signed the Head Start Reauthorization bill into law on December 12, 2007. The new law makes significant changes on a number of fronts, as discussed below. Some of the changes went into effect immediately, such as board composition, others will not go into effect for several years, such as recompetition. Since some of the changes are subject to regulations to be issued in the a year or more down the road by the federal government and others are subject to interpretation in policy guidance that may be issued sooner, we do not yet have a clear picture of how all of these new requirements will be enforced. Nevertheless it is important to begin the process for compliance with the new law.
View a summary of Head Start Reauthorization
View an Overview of Head Start Reauthorization
Head Start Reauthorization Q&A
ACF Head Start Reauthorization Related Q&A
* Please note that, in order of precedence, the 2007 Head Start Reauthorization Act is the highest authority as to Head Start issues followed by Head Start regulations that are consistent with the Act. In addition, HHS also issues various sources of informal guidance including Information Memorandums, Program Instructions and Policy Clarifications. In the hierarchy of these sources, Policy Clarifications are generally considered to be the least authoritative. However, all of these sources are subject to change and should be revisited on a regular basis.
