On September 26^th, 2018, the Office of Head Start (OHS) pushed back the date for Head Start programs to come into compliance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards’ comprehensive background check and Quality Rating Improvement Systems (QRIS) requirements until September 30^th, 2019. In the Federal Register notice announcing the delay, OHS stated that the delay is warranted because it believes that “programs could still benefit from more time as they work to align with state systems to meet these federal standards.”

The background check procedures [45 C.F.R. § 1302.90(b)] sets forth comprehensive standards for Head Start programs to follow when onboarding new hires (including contractors) to ensure that these individuals do not pose a threat to Head Start students. The QRIS requirement [45 C.F.R. § 1302.53(b)(2)] mandates that Head Start programs participate in state or local QRIS programs with limited exception.

Join Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell on October 24^th to 25^th for our Head Start Leadership Workshop focusing on the Head Start Program Performance Standards’ Human Resources requirements, including the background check and QRIS requirements, at its Washington D.C. office. To enroll in the Workshop, please sign up on our website, email learning@feldesman.com, or call us at 202-466-8960.

If you have any additional questions about the Head Start Program Performance Standards, please feel free to contact Nicole Bacon at NBacon@feldesman.com.