Full Enrollment Initiative

January 28, 2025

In the 2007 Head Start Reauthorization, Congress imposed significant requirements to maintain full enrollment or face severe consequences.  These statutory requirements have an interesting history of light enforcement for many years but that enforcement environment changed during the first Trump Administration with the issuance of a Program Instruction on the “Full Enrollment Initiative” in 2018 (ACF-PI-HS-18-04) (FEI PI).  The FEI PI, tracking the Head Start Act, laid out the process for notification, corrective action and designation as chronically underenrolled with automatic cuts to a program’s Head Start grant.  It also included a process to appeal the cuts and included the option of a one-hour “hearing” on the appeal with senior officials at the Office of Head Start.   

OHS suspended enforcement of the FEI during the pandemic and for some years after as Head Start programs worked furiously to recruit, enroll, and retain children while maintaining staffing levels through a very difficult period and its aftereffects.  Recently, however, OHS has begun to fully enforce the FEI, sending out chronically underenrolled letters with the automatic one-to-one cuts in Head Start funding. There is certainly no reason to believe that the new Administration will not continue enforcement and all Head Start programs should take proactive steps to avoid, as best they can, the worst of the FEI.

This session provides an attorney’s perspective on how to avoid a designation of “chronically underenrolled,” what to consider if your program does receive the designation, and what happens if your program is unable to meet 97% of enrollment at the end of the 12-month plan. We will consider strategies including requesting slot reductions or conversions and improved recruitment efforts to keep your agency in compliance, as well as how to appeal unfavorable decisions for potential reduction in funding.

Please note: This webinar is offered as a complimentary product to all Head Start Training Package holders. For more information on our Head Start Training Package, click here or contact us.

The on-demand version of this webinar will be available for purchase one week after the conclusion of the live webinar. 

Target Audience

  • CEOs, Executive Directors/ Head Start Directors
  • CFOs
  • COOs
  • ERSEA Managers
  • Other Staff

Learning Objectives

After this webinar, you will be able to:

  • Understand the requirements of Section 642(g) of the Head Start Act and ACF-PI-HS-18-04
  • Outline how to conduct internal monitoring to verify whether your program maintains full enrollment, to the Head Start requirements
  • Know your appeal rights in the event that your program is designated as chronically underenrolled
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.25 Certificate of Attendance
  • 1.50 CPE
Course opens: 
01/06/2025
Course expires: 
03/01/2025
Event starts: 
01/28/2025 - 1:00pm EST
Event ends: 
01/28/2025 - 2:15pm EST
Cost:
$185.00
Add to calendar: 

Ted Waters

Serving as Managing Partner of the firm and a member of the Federal Grants and Health Care practice groups, Ted is a national authority in the area of federal grants, particularly in the community service spheres. He advises Head Start clients on all aspects of program requirements, including governance, cost share and the never-ending list of grant administration matters. Ted's experience in administrative issues is widely recognized, and he routinely handles government audits, internal investigations and litigation. [Full Bio]

Participants can earn up to 1.50 CPE credits in Specialized Knowledge and Applications upon completion of all course requirements.

ATTENDEE REQUIREMENTS FOR CPE CREDIT

If you purchase CPE credit for this webinar you must satisfy the following conditions in order to receive your certificate:

  1. Answer at least 5 of the polling questions during the webinar
  2. Complete the evaluation survey after the conclusion of the webinar or in the follow-up email

Upon completion of these requirements, we will email you your CPE Certificate within two (2) weeks.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • Prerequisites: None 
  • Target Audience: CEOs, Executive Directors/Head Start Directors, CFOs, COOs, ERSEA Managers, Other staff
  • Advanced Preparation: None  
  • Program Level: All
  • Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
  • Attendance Requirements: In order to be awarded the full credits, you must respond to at least three (3) polling questions.

Feldesman Leifer LLP is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website www.nasbaregistry.org (formerly www.learningmarket.org).

Available Credit

  • 1.25 Certificate of Attendance
  • 1.50 CPE

Price

Cost:
$185.00
Please login or register to take this course.

Access to the recorded version of this webinar is included in your purchase.

You will have access to the recordings for 180 days after enrollment. Once posted to your account, you can view each 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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