Rule Would Make Head Start Centers Compete

Under a new rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families, Head Start programs that fell short of quality benchmarks would be required to compete for their funding. They would be judged in part using a classroom assessment tool developed by researchers at the University of Virginia’s school of education. The new rule would require that 25 percent of Head Start grantees compete for funds, a tougher standard than the 15 percent to 20 percent proposed by an advisory committee in 2008. Public comment on the new rule will be accepted until Dec. 21.