Recent Legal Developments in the Head Start World

1. Edward T. Waters, Esq. Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP 2001 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 466-8960 www.feldesmantucker.com Recent Legal Developments in the Head Start World Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

2. Recompetition every 5 years Underenrollment Sanctions “Special” Rules for Head Start Increasing burdens on outcomes, measures and so on. Head Start Reauthorization—Senate Bill Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

3. Hot Issues:Head Start Salaries • Administration’s latest attempt to disparage the Head Start Program • Media fanfare: e.g., San Antonio, KC Mo. • ACF’s Head Start Survey of Salaries and Other Compensation • Inspector General/GAO Audits Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

4. Hot Issues:Head Start Salaries, cont’d • Prudent Steps in Setting Salaries: • Establish a formal process for setting salaries • Wage comparability studies on a periodic basis • Documentation: showing what you did Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

5. Hot Issues: Other Topics • Underenrollment • Document Efforts • Notice to ACF • Health Care requirements • Review Requirements • Facilitate Access • Demonstrating Compliance Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

6. Hot Issues: Other Topics • Union Organizing • Neutrality is not Required • Review use of Federal funds Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

7. From the Bench: Recent Head Start Cases • NHSA v. HHS – Round 1 • NHSA v. HHS – Round 2 Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

8. From the Bench: Recent Head Start Cases, cont’d • Federal cases: • Dubbs v. Head Start, (10th Circuit July 2003) • Parental consent forms inadequate in securing consent for on-site medical examination of HS children. • Parents Not Explicitly Informed of Exams Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

9. From the Bench: Recent Head Start Cases, cont’d • Excerpt from Dubbs: • The failure to secure parental consent in this case “appears to be the product of sloppy draftsmanship (with respect to the consent forms) and carelessness (with respect to notice) . . .” Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

10. Lessons LearnedDubbs: • Secure Parental Informed Consent: • State law specific • Generally: provide all relevant information so parent can make “informed” decision including timely notice • Update parental forms at least once a year • Language appropriate forms • Only do what consent forms explicitly allow! Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

11. From the Bench: Recent Head Start Cases, cont’d • DAB case: • Rincon San Luiseno Band of Mission Indians: • $106,524 disallowed for failure to meet non-federal matching requirements and failure to properly document expenditures Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

12. From the Bench: Recent Head Start Cases, cont’d • DAB case: • Council of the Southern Mountains: • $11,635 disallowed for improper documentation of costs (costs which otherwise might have been allowable) Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

13. Lessons Learned: • Program planning • Documentation Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP