The Designation Renewal System (DRS) holds Head Start agencies accountable for delivering high-quality and comprehensive services to the children and families they serve and meeting program and financial requirements. The DRS establishes seven conditions to determine whether programs qualify for continued Head Start funding for five years without competing for those funds with other local agencies. Open competitions are held in communities in which a program meets one or more specified conditions. In such cases, interested agencies may apply to provide Head Start services in that area through a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Agencies that do not meet one of the seven DRS conditions become eligible to receive a new five-year grant noncompetitively. The DRS was established in 2011 and revised in 2020.

DRS Overview

The DRS is the process for determining whether a Head Start agency may receive a new grant noncompetitively or if the grant will be subject to an open competition.

DRS Changes in 2020

These DRS revisions ensure the conditions for competitive designation target grantees with lower performance or systemic problems. They also support continuous quality improvement of teacher-child interactions.

Current HSPPS on the DRS

The Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) at 45 CFR § 1304 Subpart B outline the current regulations for the DRS process.

Revised HSPPS on the DRS

Effective Nov. 9, 2020, the HSPPS at 45 CFR § 1304 Subpart B will be updated as shown in this document.