Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Head Start Program Information Report
Published Date: 1/29/2026
Notice
Summary
The Office of Head Start is updating and extending its key reports that track how Head Start programs serve kids and families. These updates add new questions about children with special education plans to better understand their needs. Programs and parents will keep using these reports through 2028, helping improve services without extra costs or deadlines beyond a March 2, 2026 comment date.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Head Start Reporting Extended to 2028
The Office of Head Start is requesting a 3-year extension of the Head Start Program Information Report (PIR), Monthly Enrollment, and Center Locations and Contacts instruments through OMB clearance expiration on August 31, 2028. Comments on the information collection are due March 2, 2026.
New Special-Education Questions Added
The PIR will add questions asking the primary reasons children with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) did not receive services and will collect the number of children who had a 504 Plan. These changes are intended to clarify reporting on children who receive additional education and related services.
Center Location Reporting Helps Parents
The Center Locations and Contacts instrument continues (no changes) and is used to help parents locate Head Start programs in their communities. Programs will keep reporting center locations under the extended clearance.
Reporting Time Burden for Grant Recipients
Head Start grant recipients (1,600 respondents) will continue annual reporting that the agency estimates requires on average 7.35 hours per respondent per year (PIR: 2.25 hours once; Monthly Enrollment: 27 responses × 0.05 hours = 1.35 hours; Center Locations: 15 responses × 0.25 hours = 3.75 hours). The total estimated annual burden is 11,760 hours.
Monthly Enrollment Clarifications Maintain Oversight
The Monthly Enrollment reporting instrument includes minor clarification edits and continues to support oversight activities related to promoting full enrollment of Head Start programs.
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Key Dates
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