Sasser Sefton Tipton & Davis

Sasser, Sefton, Tipton & Davis, P.C.
Montgomery, Alabama

On March 18, 2011, the Office of Head Start published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend the Head Start and Early Head Start regulations governing eligibility.  The proposed changes would codify the statutory standards for Head Start and Early Head Start eligibility under the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007.  The proposed changes would also add new requirements for verification, certification, and maintenance of eligibility records for Head Start and Early Head Start in response to the Government Accountability Office's investigation of possible eligibility and enrollment abuses at two grantees.  These requirements include new certifications by parents (and others) applying for services as well as new certifications by program staff making eligibility determinations.  Comments on the proposed rules are due by 11:59 P.M. Eastern on April 18, 2011.