Upcoming Bacon PLLC Training

​Head Start programs continue to face staff shortages across the country along with other early learning and childcare employers.  Adding to this ongoing hardship, Head Start leadership must also navigate complex and tricky staff qualification requirements under the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS). In May of this year, the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) Restoring Flexibility To Support Head Start Program Access, which proposes rolling back the rigorous salary and benefits requirements imposed by the 2024 Final Rule Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming. More recently, ACF issued another NPRM, Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs,  proposing to streamline the HSPPS, proposing to eliminate even more obligations and requirements. On one hand, Head Start programs may be relieved at the idea of removing a requirement that their budgets will not sustain. On the other hand, many programs question how they can compete with other employers without significantly increasing salaries and benefits for their staff while continuing to provide high-quality services.

 

In this webinar, we will discuss qualifications required under the current rules for various positions as outlined in the Head Start regulations, which staff qualifications allow for grantee flexibility, and what to do with that flexibility. In addition, we will cover issues surrounding important timelines for meeting applicable qualifications and competencies. Finally, we will cover what potential changes to the rules could mean for your Head Start team in the future.

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​Training Objectives:

• Discuss general rules related to Head Start staff qualification requirements;

• Cover Head Start staff qualification requirements as they apply today and future applicants; and

• Discuss how to structure your personnel policies and procedures to ensure compliance.

 
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to:

•  Identify minimum staff qualifications and competencies

• Understand how to avoid negative monitoring findings related to staff meeting requisite qualifications under the HSPPS

• Learn the best way to compose staff job descriptions to ensure compliance