Health and Human Services Department, Children and Families Administration
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.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families 45 CFR Part 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, and 1305 RIN 0970-AD30 ( printed page 51248) AGENCY: Office of Head Start (OHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY: 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. DATES: Please submit comments on this NPRM by October 6, 2026. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments, identified by docket number ACF-2026-0595 and/or RIN number 0970-AD30, by one of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Email: Deregulation@acf.hhs.gov . Include the docket number ACF-2026-0595 and/or RIN number 0970-AD30 in the subject line of the message. Instructions: All submissions received must include the age…
Citation: 91 FR 51248
