Notice of Proposed Rule Making/Proposed Changes to Head Start Program Performance Standards
Stay Informed and Engage in the Process! In response to the NPRM Proposed Changes to the HSPPS, IHSA is dedicating sessions for the IL Head Start/Early Head Start community to share listen and share their thoughts and feedback on the proposed changes. Here's the plan for moving forward...
RSVP or register for these events to stay up to date, share your thoughts, provide feedback to the proposed changes. Attend one or all these events:
Statewide Directors Meeting
Date: December 7th
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Champaign, IL (Virtual option available)
RSVP Here
City of Chicago Directors Meeting
Date: December 13th
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Chicago, IL
RSVP Here
Listening Sessions (Virtual)
Date: December 15th
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Date: January 3rd
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Important Dates:
January 5th: Draft comments completed and shared with you
January 10th: Release final comments to our members
Your Voice Matters!
We are working closely with NHSA. They've created a survey, and we want the IL community to complete it. NHSA Survey/NPRM. NHSA will share IL's survey responses with us. Please take the time to complete the survey! They have divided it into sections so you can do one section at a time and come back to it.
Task Force Collaboration:
We will use the feedback to inform our responses. Draft responses will be reviewed by the Task Force. A final copy will be sent out in early January for all to use the wording, template, etc.
Deadline for Comments:
All comments must be submitted by January 19th. Let's make our collective voice heard!
Summary of Key Proposed Changes
Following are a selection of particularly impactful changes from the NPRM. Visit this page to view all 67 proposed changes.
Employee Compensation
- Requirement that programs establish pay scales and benchmark salaries against the local school district’s compensation for similarly qualified K-3 teachers
- Requirement that minimum pay be sufficient to meet basic cost of living in the local area
- Substantial increases in benefits, including providing (or facilitating access to) health insurance; sick, personal, and family leave; and mental health services
Mental Health
- Establishment of a multidisciplinary mental health team
- Requirement to provide mental health consultation services at least monthly
- Allowing programs to work with “mental health consultants” who are providing services under licensed mental health professionals
Quality Improvements
- Establish a maximum caseload of 40 families per family service worker
- Protect children from exposure to lead in the water and paint of Head Start facilities through regular testing and, if needed, remediation
- Encourage lower teacher to child ratios for Early Head Start classrooms serving the youngest children
Eligibility
- Revise definition of ‘income’ to provide a clear, finite list of income sources that should be counted for eligibility determination
- Adjust a family’s gross income to account for excessive housing costs in their community, for eligibility determination purposes
Resources
Following are resources for you to learn more about the proposed changes.
