HHS Proposes Vision for the Future of Head Start, Releases New Performance Standards

HHS Proposes Vision for the Future of Head Start, Releases New Performance Standards

Raises the bar on quality, expands program to full school day, full school year, reduces regulatory burden by one-third

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today important steps to improve the quality of services at Head Start programs across the country. HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell unveiled the first comprehensive revision of the Head Start Performance Standards since they were originally published in 1975.  Improving these performance standards, which provide the foundation for practices and policies in every Head Start program, builds upon past efforts from the administration to improve and strengthen Head Start in order to deliver on the President’s call to provide children with access to high-quality early childhood experiences. The revised standards reflect a vision for how to raise the bar on quality for all Head Start programs and build on the programs’ history of success to help more children onto a path to school success.

Read more about today's announcement.