(1) In general To determine whether Head Start agencies meet standards described in subsection (a)(1) established under this subchapter with respect to program, administrative, financial management, and other requirements, and in order to help the programs identify areas for improvement and areas of strength as part of their ongoing self-assessment process, the Secretary shall conduct the following reviews of Head Start agencies, including the Head Start programs operated by such agencies:
(A) A full review, including the use of a risk-based assessment approach, of each such agency at least once during each 3-year period.
(B) A review of each newly designated Head Start agency immediately after the completion of the first year such agency carries out a Head Start program.
(C) Followup reviews, including
(i) return visits to Head Start agencies with 1 or more findings of deficiencies, not later than 6 months after the Secretary provides notification of such findings, or not later than 12 months after such notification if the Secretary determines that additional time is necessary for an agency to address such a deficiency prior to the review; and
(ii) a review of Head Start agencies with significant areas of noncompliance.
(D) Other reviews, including unannounced site inspections of Head Start centers, as appropriate.
(2) Conduct of reviews The Secretary shall ensure that reviews described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1)
(A) are conducted by review teams that
(i) include individuals who are knowledgeable about Head Start programs and, to the maximum extent practicable, individuals who are knowledgeable about
(I) other early childhood education and development programs, personnel management, financial accountability, and systems development and monitoring; and
(II) the diverse (including linguistic and cultural) needs of eligible children (including children with disabilities, homeless children, children in foster care, and limited English proficient children) and their families;
(ii) include, to the maximum extent practicable, current or former employees of the Department of Health and Human Services who are knowledgeable about Head Start programs; and
(iii) shall receive periodic training to ensure quality and consistency across reviews;
(B) include as part of the reviews, a review and assessment of program strengths and areas in need of improvement;
(C) include as part of the reviews, a review and assessment of whether programs have adequately addressed population and community needs (including those of limited English proficient children and children of migrant or seasonal farmworker families);
(D) include as part of the reviews, an assessment of the extent to which the programs address the communitywide strategic planning and needs assessment described in section
9835 (g)(1)(C) of this title;
(E) include information on the innovative and effective efforts of the Head Start agencies to collaborate with the entities providing early childhood and development services or programs in the community and any barriers to such collaboration that the agencies encounter;
(F) include as part of the reviews, a valid and reliable research-based observational instrument, implemented by qualified individuals with demonstrated reliability, that assesses classroom quality, including assessing multiple dimensions of teacher-child interactions that are linked to positive child development and later achievement;
(G) are conducted in a manner that evaluates program performance, quality, and overall operations with consistency and objectivity, are based on a transparent and reliable system of review, and are conducted in a manner that includes periodic interrater reliability checks, to ensure quality and consistency, across and within regions, of the reviews and of noncompliance and deficiency determinations;
(H) in the case of reviews of Early Head Start agencies and programs, are conducted by a review team that includes individuals who are knowledgeable about the development of infants and toddlers;
(I) include as part of the reviews a protocol for fiscal management that shall be used to assess compliance with program requirements for
(i) using Federal funds appropriately;
(ii) using Federal funds specifically to purchase property (consistent with section
9839 (f) of this title) and to compensate personnel;
(iii) securing and using qualified financial officer support; and
(iv) reporting financial information and implementing appropriate internal controls to safeguard Federal funds;
(J) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a review and assessment of whether the programs are in conformity with the eligibility requirements under section
9840 (a)(1) of this title, including regulations promulgated under such section and whether the programs have met the requirements for the outreach and enrollment policies and procedures, and selection criteria, in such section, for the participation of children in programs assisted under this subchapter;
(K) include as part of the reviews, a review and assessment of whether agencies have adequately addressed the needs of children with disabilities, including whether the agencies involved have met the 10 percent minimum enrollment requirement specified in section
9835 (d) of this title and whether the agencies have made sufficient efforts to collaborate with State and local agencies providing services under section
619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (
20 U.S.C.
1419,
1431 et seq.); and
(L) include as part of the reviews, a review and assessment of child outcomes and performance as they relate to agency-determined school readiness goals described in subsection (g)(2), consistent with subsection (b)(5).
(4) Use of review findings The findings of a review described in paragraph (1) of a Head Start agency shall, at a minimum
(A) be presented to the agency in a timely, transparent, and uniform manner that conveys information of program strengths and weaknesses and assists with program improvement; and
(B) be used by the agency to inform the development and implementation of its plan for training and technical assistance.