Head Start in State Systems Sole Source Award

This requirement was awarded through task order 47QRAA-20D-001M/7571MN26F80105 This requirement will support the generation and dissemination of research and/or evaluation that builds on the Financing Early Care and Education (ECE) Study task order (47QRAA-20D-001M/ 140D0422F0154). The primary objective is to generate and disseminate evidence pertaining to the financing of early care and education programs that meet child, family, and community needs. Building on data collected under the prior contract, this project will identify and elevate strategies used to align Head Start programs within state funding contexts to reduce administrative burden and expand the reach of ECE and Head Start funding.

The research will focus on how Head Start programs operate within state systems and highlight effective strategies states have used to integrate or build upon Head Start funding within their broader early childhood systems. The project will also examine how efforts to streamline licensing and regulatory requirements, workforce standards, and supports for quality and technical assistance across funding streams can reduce burden, improve program efficiency, increase parental access to ECE, and support child and family outcomes. This requirement will build on prior efforts to identify and elevate financing approaches for states that most effectively align funding streams to both reduce burden and increase the reach of ECE funding.

This project will provide ACF with critical evidence to understand how federal early care and education programs can achieve the Agency's mission and vision of

1. supporting federalism & local leadership by providing actionable insights into how states and localities can leverage Head Start and other federal funding streams for early care and education (ECE) to best meet local needs,
2. promoting quality early learning environments and improved child outcomes by understanding how to leverage existing funding sources to best meet the preferences of families with young children consistent with their unique needs, and
3. promoting work and self-sufficiency by exploring how leveraging funds can expand the availability of ECE services that allow parents to work.