Federal · Final rule · Health and Human Services Department
COVID-19 Mitigation Policy Requirement in Head Start Programs; Recission
Final rule Significant Official data
Last official action: · Record last updated:
Official abstract (Federal Register)
This direct final rule (DFR) removes the requirement that Head Start programs have a COVID-19 mitigation policy. This requirement was included in the final rule titled "Mitigating the Spread of COVID-19 in Head Start Programs," which ACF published on January 6, 2023. Specifically, this rescission removes the requirement from the Head Start Program Performance Standards (Performance Standards) that Head Start programs have a COVID-19 mitigation policy developed in consultation with their Health and Mental Health Services Advisory Committee (HMHSAC), formerly the Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC). This DFR meets the deregulatory requirements of Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation, and is aligned with Executive Order 14148, Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.
Dates (as published)
This DFR is effective on February 17, 2026 unless significant adverse comments are received by January 20, 2026. If significant adverse comments are received, notice will be published in the Federal Register before the effective date either withdrawing the rule or issuing a new final rule that responds to significant adverse comments.
Read the rule on FederalRegister.gov ↗