Administration for Children and Families November 26, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Head Start will further delay the compliance date for programs to meet the new comprehensive background checks requirements and to participate in their state or local Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS). We are delaying the compliance date for these standards, based on concerns states still will not have systems developed that can accommodate Head Start programs by the current compliance date. Head Start programs are still encouraged to conduct comprehensive background checks where state systems support Head Start requests and are required to meet the background check requirements in section 648A of the Head Start Act that requires them to obtain a State, tribal, or Federal criminal record check for all staff members prior to employment. The Office of Head Start also requests comments on the issues set out in this final rule.