Federal Review Preparation
Monitoring preparation can be stressful. Foundations for Families can help you get ready.
The Head Start Aligned Monitoring System (AMS 2.0) uses Focus Area Reviews to take a holistic view of a grantee’s services and functions across the five-year grant cycle, evaluating grantee compliance, progress, and performance across multiple years of program implementation.
Because data from AMS 2.0 is used to determine whether the grantee will need to compete for continuing Head Start funding according to the Designation Renewal System (DRS), it’s important to demonstrate strong performance during your review.
In a review that is focused on dialogue and personal exchanges, how does one prepare?
Resources from the Office of Head Start
Access FY2026 monitoring tools and learn more.
Get ready for your review and make any improvements necessary – ahead of time
A Focus Area 1 (FA1) review is conducted with on-site and virtual components. In FY26, the FA1 Review is a Program Systems Review focused on program management, safe learning environments, fiscal integrity, and ERSEA. During the FA1 Review, Reviewers will review data and other materials and conduct interviews with multiple staff, as well as the Board and Policy Council. This year, the Review will also include teacher discussions following classroom observations and child eligibility file reviews. We can help you prepare by using our Assessment Readiness Tool (ART), aligned to the FA1 Monitoring Protocol and Review Guides, to facilitate mock review sessions. Through this process, we will work with your team to identify areas that are challenging to respond to and provide recommendations to develop an improved response so that everyone can effectively demonstrate their expertise across all areas of your program.
A Focus Area 2 (FA2) review is also conducted with on-site and virtual components. The FY26 FA2 Review is a Comprehensive Services Review. It is broader in scope than the FA1, covering six content areas – program management, fiscal, ERSEA, health, family & community engagement, and education & child development. As with the FA1, Reviewers will engage in interviews and review data and other materials, as well as conducting center and classroom observations. To support your preparation, Foundations for Families team members will use the ART (this time aligned to the FA2 Monitoring Protocol and Review Guides) to facilitate mock review sessions, identify areas where improvement may be needed, and provide recommendations and resources to support next steps. In addition, we will review documents, data, year-to-date outcomes, and other materials, as appropriate, so that you have an opportunity to develop a response to any identified concerns prior to discussions with Reviewers.
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