(Recorded Webinar) Industry Update: Head Start Program Performance Standards Proposed Changes

This webinar is discounted for subscribers to the Head Start Training Package.

Duration: 60 minutes 
Recorded on: 08/24/2026 

Register now to receive access to the recorded webinar on August 31, 2026. Live webinar registrants will automatically receive access to the recorded webinar. 

Please note: This webinar is limited to Head Start agencies, subrecipients, and regional Head Start associations.

On August 7, 2026, the Office of Head Start (OHS) published a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) proposing to eliminate most of the current Head Start Program Performance Standards and instead, largely defer to the provisions of the Head Start Act for program requirements.  

This proposed rule is certainly one of, if not the most, significant change in the Head Start program since it was codified as a stand-alone program in 1980.  The proposed changes will eliminate many of the hallmarks of the Head Start programs such as teacher/student ratios and supportive services like screenings and assessments that have made the Head Start program the preeminent early childhood program in the country.  Indeed, it is not an overstatement to claim that many of the innovations found in Early Childhood Education programs today, across geographic and income levels, were developed in Head Start programs over the past 50+ years.  

Our initial analysis is that these proposed changes will create continuing chaos, as the Head Start Act was never intended to be program terms and conditions but was to be implemented and clarified through federal regulations such as the Performance Standards.  Some provisions, such as capping administrative costs at 5%, may be devasting to agencies that do not have significant sources of funding to cover necessary overhead costs. 

The firm's attorneys are conducting a thorough examination of the proposed changes.  Join us for this industry update to share our observations on the key revisions, highlight particularly impactful changes, and discuss the potential implications for Head Start recipients.

We encourage all Head Start grant recipients to review the proposed changes and submit comments by October 6, 2026, through the Federal Rulemaking Portal.

Target Audience

  • CEOs / Directors
  • CFOs
  • Fiscal Staff
  • Compliance Directors
  • Grants Management Staff
  • Anyone who needs to stay apprised of potential changes in the Head Start Program Performance Standards

Learning Objectives

After this webinar, you will be able to:

  1. Understand the proposed changes in the Head Start Program Performance Standards
  2. Determine how the potential revisions may impact your organization
  3. Decide if you or your organization will submit comments to the Administration for Children and Families

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 1.25 Certificate of Attendance
Course opens: 
08/07/2026
Course expires: 
10/01/2028
Cost:
$185.00

Phillip A. Escoriaza

Phillip Escoriaza is a Partner in the firm’s Federal Grants and Health Care practice groups. A native of Puerto Rico, Phillip’s bilingual, nationwide practice serves non-profit organizations, municipalities, local government agencies, and other federal grantees. Prior to joining the firm, Phillip ran a practice from San Juan which spanned corporate, business, public policy, government and contract law, and included contested matters and appeals before state and federal courts.  [Full Bio]

Ted Waters

Serving as Managing Partner of the firm and a member of the Federal Grants and Health Care practice groups, Ted focuses his practice on helping organizations solve problems. Ted’s vast experience in financial, cost reporting, reimbursement and administrative issues is widely recognized, and he routinely handles challenging issues for clients such as government audits, internal investigations and litigation. [Full Bio]

Certificates of Attendance: We verify attendance upon completion of a webinar (live or recorded version) and will only issue certificates in the name of the account holder enrolled in the course. If you need to document attendance for someone other than the account holder, we provide blank Certificates of Attendance for a supervisor to sign and certify that a different individual viewed the course. 

Group Attendance: Due to the online nature of webinars, we cannot verify participation by more than one person. For groups, we provide an attendance record form and blank Certificates of Attendance to record attendance at a group viewing session and document each individual's participation. We recommend that a supervisor or colleague sign the certificate to certify attendance. 

Read more about maintaining an attendance record in our FAQs.

Available Credit

  • 1.25 Certificate of Attendance

Price

Cost:
$185.00
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Access Period

Recorded webinars are available for 180 days after the date of purchase or date of the webinar. Once posted to your account, you can view this webinar anytime on-demand during the access period identified in your purchase confirmation. For additional information on viewing and accessing webinars, view our full terms and conditions here.

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If you pay by credit card or PayPal, you will be able to access the recorded webinar immediately (unless the live webinar has not yet occurred). If you pay by check, we will grant access to the recording when we receive your check. You will receive a confirmation email once access is granted. Feldesman Training Solutions reserves the right to suspend access to the webinar if payment is not received within 30 days. For more information on payments and registration, please visit our FAQ page.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be provided for recorded webinars. Feldesman Training Solutions can transfer a registration to someone else within your organization or, provided you have not already viewed the webinar, transfer the registration to another on-demand program. Where the registration fee for the new webinar is higher, you must also pay the difference between the original course and the new course registration fee at the time of transfer. Administrative fees may also apply. If your organization purchased a webinar under the account of a staff member who no longer works for your organization, please contact us. View our full policy on refunds and cancellations here.

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