The FY2025 Head Start monitoring season is getting started, and the Office of Head Start (OHS) hosted a kickoff webinar last week. This year, there are changes to the monitoring process and the protocols. Many of these changes are to bring the protocols into alignment with the updated Head Start Program Performance Standards (Performance Standards). Here, we highlight some of the key takeaways from the FY25 Monitoring Kickoff Webinar and our initial review of OHS monitoring protocols.
There is a delayed start for some types of reviews. This year, CLASS reviews began on October 7, 2024 and are again being conducted as video submissions or onsite reviews. This is a typical timeline for the start of monitoring, as all reviews usually begin around October. Unlike in years past, FY2025 Focus Area 1 and Focus Area 2 reviews will have a delayed start. These reviews will begin on December 16, 2024 and continue through the program year. OHS noted that the delay is to allow people time to familiarize themselves with the updated Performance Standards. Focus Area 1 reviews will be conducted virtually and Focus Area 2 reviews will take place on site.
There are changes coming to CLASS reviews. FY2025 will continue to use the CLASS 2008 version. In FY2026, OHS will use CLASS 2nd Edition for reviews. With regard to CLASS reviews, OHS also referenced the November 6, 2024 Program Instruction, Final Rule to Delay Effective Date for Increasing the CLASS® Instructional Support Domain Competitive Threshold. The effective date to raise the CLASS Instructional Support competitive threshold from 2.3 to 2.5 was supposed to be August 1, 2025. This has now been delayed to August 1, 2027. One of the reasons for delaying the increase in competitive threshold is to allow time for implementation and building familiarity with CLASS 2nd Edition.
Unannounced reviews will continue in FY2025. After being on hold during the pandemic, unannounced reviews returned last year; they will continue with FY2025 monitoring. While most reviews will take place with notice (i.e., programs will receive a letter 45 days in advance of a review to notify them of the exact dates the review will take place), OHS shared that 10% of programs monitored with a Focus Area 2 review in FY2025 will have an unannounced review.
Monitoring protocols are available on ECLKC and are aligned to the updated Performance Standards. FY2025 monitoring protocols build upon last year’s protocols and also reflect the “flexibilities and clarifications” in the updated Performance Standards. Like the FY2024 protocols, the FY2025 protocols include Strong Practices, which shows OHS’ continued interest in identifying innovative practices. OHS defines Strong Practice as an “activity or strategy that shows promise for long term sustainable impact.”
If you are expecting a review this year, we strongly encourage you to review the protocols closely to ensure your responses and data are aligned to the new protocols. We also recommend a detailed read through of the FY25 Monitoring Kickoff Webinar slides and viewing the recording, when available. In the webinar, OHS describes clarifications, flexibilities, and data collection alerts for each area of the protocols. There are many nuances to explore.
Most updates to the Performance Standards will not be monitored this program year. This includes brand new standards that have not been monitored previously, as well as standards for which the compliance dates fall after this program year. OHS acknowledged the importance of giving programs time to thoughtfully prepare for implementation and monitoring of the new standards.
Some updated standards will be monitored. OHS described the updated Performance Standards that will be monitored as those that represent requirements that were in place prior to the Final Rule. For example, standards that were clarified or codified in the updates.
More information is coming on RAN reviews. RAN (Risk Assessment Notification) is a type of special review that takes place if a program has had an incident (e.g., unauthorized release, inappropriate conduct, supervision) related to child health and safety. Given the changes to child safety in the Final Rule, OHS is updating the protocol and expects to release more information soon. A webinar will also take place to go over changes related to RAN reviews.
Thank you.
Thank you for reading our blog. We encourage you to use our blog posts for thought, integration, and sharing. When using or sharing content from blog posts, please attribute the original content to Foundations for Families.