Head Start Accountability Act of 2005

H.R. 778, the Head Start Accountability Act of 2005, proposes stricter oversight and management standards for organizations that receive federal funding to operate Head Start programs. The bill would establish fixed terms for agency designations, requiring providers to undergo periodic reviews to ensure they continue to meet federal quality and financial standards before their funding is renewed.

For families and local communities, this legislation aims to improve the quality of early childhood education by requiring programs to form local oversight boards and undergo annual financial audits. It also speeds up the timeline for correcting program deficiencies and limits the ability of agencies to use federal funds to appeal government decisions regarding the termination or reduction of their assistance.