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Head Start News
Head Start News provides timely information for Head Start Preschool and Early Head Start programs about regulatory requirements, Office of Head Start priorities, and Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for DRS grant competitions, as well as tips, strategies, and resources to support compliance and continuous program improvement.
If you followed our DRS Updates blog before, you will want to sign up for this new blog now! When there is a forecasted or open DRS competition, we will use Head Start News to continue to share tips, strategies, and resources to help agencies in DRS, at risk of being in DRS, or those wishing to compete for the service areas to submit the most competitive application.
The Head Start News blog is published a minimum of quarterly. Subscribing also gives you access to our Monthly Round Up, where we highlight blog posts from both of our blogs, upcoming events, and newsworthy research and reflections.
DRS Grant Competitions Delayed Until Spring 2026
For programs awaiting a DRS competition, little information has been shared in recent months about the timeline for the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to be released. Usually, by late summer, a forecast for the NOFO is on Grants.gov and DRS competitions typically open in the fall or early winter. This time, those months came and went without any Head Start updates on Grants.gov. Earlier this week, the Office of Head Start (OHS) shared a communication with some programs about the timeline for DRS and what to expect next.
Waiting for a DRS NOFO? How to Use Your Time
Each year, around this time, Head Start programs in DRS are beginning to prepare for their grant competition. Typically, there is a forecast on Grants.gov that alerts agencies to when the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for their grant will open and when applications will be due. As we head into the start of a new program year, there is not yet a forecast posted on Grants.gov for fall DRS grant competitions. While there is usually a forecast a month or more out, the lead time can be much shorter. We understand that this creates some uncertainty for program.
How to Leverage Efficiencies in DRS Planning
While there is uncertainty about the future of Head Start, children and families are being served and the core aspects of the federal program continue on – including DRS. We understand that having a program in DRS can be unsettling. With the right planning and tools, the process can go smoothly and successfully. Here, we talk about what to expect for the next round of DRS and how you can leverage efficiencies in planning.
Spring 2025 DRS Grant Competitions Move Forward
On Thursday, February 27, the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for Head Start/Early Head Start grant recipients in multiple communities in Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas was posted to grants.gov. These grants were forecasted to post on January 28, 2025 but were delayed after the forecast was removed from grants.gov. Now that the NOFO has officially posted, it appears the grant competitions will move forward.
Early 2025 DRS Grant Competitions Delayed
The upcoming round of DRS was scheduled to open for competition on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) were not released as scheduled. The forecast for these grants has not been updated with a new timeline.This week, federal grant recipients, including Head Start grantees, experienced uncertainty about their immediate funding and future of their grants. While it’s unclear when currently forecasted grant opportunities will move forward, we encourage programs awaiting a DRS competition to use this time to prepare.
DRS Grants Forecasted to Open for Competition in January 2025
Last week, a Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for Designation Renewal System (DRS) grant opportunities was forecasted on grants.gov.Per grants.gov, the geographic areas and funding amounts for the NOFOs include the following.Head Start/Early Head Start Recipient - Multiple Communities in CO, DE, LA, NC, OK, OR, TN, TX
Tips for Finalizing DRS Applications through the Holidays
The deadline for submission of DRS grant applications, January 6, 2025, is about three weeks away. At this stage in the process, you’re likely putting finishing touches on the narrative, gathering appendix items, and planning for submission of your application. This round of DRS is unique in that the final steps of the application process are taking place over the winter holidays when many programs have closures or staff are out of the office.
DRS NOFOs Posted and Applications Due January 6, 2025
Today, two Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for Designation Renewal System (DRS) grant opportunities posted on grants.gov. Links to the announcements on grants.gov are below. Grant applications are due January 6, 2024.
Forecasted Timeline for DRS Grant Competitions is Updated
Two Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for DRS grant opportunities were forecasted on post to grants.gov this past Monday, October 21. The NOFOs did not post as forecasted. Today, the grant forecasts were updated with a new timeline. The fall 2024 DRS grant competitions are expected to open on October 28, 2024 and the estimated due date for applications is now January 6, 2025. Links to the grant forecasts are provided below.
Service Areas Announced for Fall 2024 DRS Grant Competitions
Earlier this month, two Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for Designation Renewal System (DRS) grant opportunities were forecasted on grants.gov. New information is now available about the specific service areas up for competition. Listed below, as reported on the Office of Head Start NOFO Locator, are the service areas and estimated funding amounts that are expected to open for competition in October 2024.
DRS Grants Forecasted to Open for Competition in October 2024
On September 3, 2024, two Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for Designation Renewal System (DRS) grant opportunities were forecasted on grants.gov. There is a NOFO for Head Start/Early Head Start and there is a NOFO for Early Head Start Expansion and Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership Grants.
Data Readiness Supports a Competitive DRS Grant Application
If the next round of DRS grant competitions follows the same pattern we saw last year, programs might expect a fall or early winter timeline. Most DRS competitions took place in the fall, with grants forecasted in September and open for competition October through December. The months leading up to DRS are critical planning time.
8 DRS NOFOs Posted and Applications Due March 26
On January 24, 2024, eight Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for Designation Renewal System (DRS) grant opportunities posted on grants.gov. Grant applications are due March 26, 2024. In addition to accessing NOFOs on grants.gov, they are downloadable from the Office of Head Start (OHS) NOFO Locator.
December 2023 DRS Recap: Closed, Open, and Coming Soon
This has been a busy fall for DRS grant competitions, and new activity continues on grants.gov. Here, we recap all of the moving pieces as we head into the new year.Grant Competitions Recently Closed: This fall’s largest round of DRS competitions closed on December 14, 2023. A majority of the 30 Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) that were released on October 12 had proposals due last week and applicants now await review and notification.
Early 2024 DRS Grant Competitions Forecasted
Today, the Office of Head Start (OHS) forecasted four additional DRS Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) on grants.gov. This DRS season has seen NOFOs forecasted and posted on a variety of timelines, as we summarized in Status of Grant Competitions and Resources for Applicants.
Status of DRS Grant Competitions and Resources for Applicants
This fall, there has been a lot of activity related to DRS on grants.gov. Currently, there are grant competitions that are about to close, newly opened competitions, and other grants that are forecasted but have not yet posted. Below is a breakdown of what we know about the status of DRS competitions. We also highlight a few new resources made available by the Office of Head Start (OHS).
Additional DRS NOFO Forecasted – More to Come?
This week, there was new activity on grants.gov as an additional DRS grant opportunity was forecasted. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), however, is on a different timeline than the 30 active NOFOs that were published in October. Here’s what you need to know.
What to Do While you Wait for DRS NOFOs
There are 50 Head Start/Early Head Start grants forecasted for which Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) were forecasted to be released on September 5. One week later, the NOFOs have not yet posted to grants.gov. If your program is waiting for a NOFO, we understand that this delay can create wrinkles in your planning. Below are a few ways you might use the time while you wait.