Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs

What it does

This NPRM proposes to rescind and replace the Head Start Program Performance Standards (Performance Standards), last revised in 2024. The proposed Performance Standards would significantly reduce Federal bureaucratic burden on programs; defer to State policies wherever possible; return substantial local control to Head Start agencies delivering the services and to parents as the primary caregivers and decision-makers for their children; reduce unnecessary duplication of Head Start regulations with Federal statute and other regulations; and emphasize the critical role of health, nutrition, and physical exercise for young children.

The Children and Families Administration's summary, as published in the Federal Register.

What it would change

5 parts of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

45 CFR 1301, 45 CFR 1302, 45 CFR 1303, 45 CFR 1304, 45 CFR 1305

Before this

No earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 0970-AD30 since Jan. 1, 2025.

What happens next and when

Please submit comments on this NPRM by October 6, 2026.

The agency's dates, word for word.

Check it yourself

• The document in the Federal Register
• Docket ACF-2026-0595 on Regulations.gov
• Title 45 on eCFR

The record as published

Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register