Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data | HHS 2024 ACF OPRE YR 0093

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2024 ACF OPRE YR 0093

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through its Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), is offering a discretionary grant opportunity called Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data (Funding Opportunity Number HHS 2024 ACF OPRE YR 0093; CFDA 93.600). The purpose is to fund researchers to conduct rigorous secondary analyses using existing datasets that are relevant to Head Start (HS) programs and policy decisions. The work is meant to generate timely, policy-relevant findings without collecting new primary data, and to ensure those findings are shared in ways that are useful for both technical and non-technical audiences.

The opportunity is focused broadly on research that can inform Head Start services across multiple program types and populations. This includes Head Start programs serving children ages 3 to 5, Early Head Start programs serving pregnant women as well as infants and toddlers, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Head Start programs serving families in tribal communities, and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs serving families involved in migrant and seasonal farm work. ACF indicates that specific priority topics and specific datasets of interest will be spelled out in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), signaling that applicants should align their proposed analyses with the particular research questions and data resources ACF highlights.

ACF lays out three main goals for these awards. First, the funded projects should address issues that are currently relevant to Head Start goals and participant outcomes, meaning applicants should connect their research questions to real program and policy needs (for example, child development outcomes, family well-being, service quality, access and equity, workforce considerations, or program implementation challenges, depending on what the NOFO prioritizes). Second, ACF wants the awards to strengthen communication and collaboration between experienced Head Start researchers and policymakers, encouraging active networking rather than isolated research efforts. Third, the program is designed to build the broader capacity of the Head Start research community to use existing datasets effectively and to disseminate results to multiple audiences, which typically implies products beyond academic papers, such as practitioner-facing briefs, presentations, webinars, or policy memos.

From a practical funding standpoint, the grant instrument is a standard federal grant, with an award ceiling of $100,000 and an expected number of about 10 awards. The original closing date listed for this cycle is April 26, 2024. The funding activity category is Income Security and Social Services, reflecting the program and policy context in which Head Start operates. Applicants interested in tracking updates are directed to register on Grants.gov and subscribe to the forecast listing, since details may be clarified or updated through the formal federal posting process.

Eligibility is broad for organizations, but clearly excludes individuals. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special districts), independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding universities where specified), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and other eligible entities listed in the announcement. However, applications submitted by individuals, including sole proprietorships, are not eligible and will be disqualified from merit review, and foreign entities are also not eligible. The announcement also makes clear that faith-based and community organizations may apply if they meet the standard eligibility requirements, and ACF states it will not discriminate based on an organization’s religious character or affiliation, consistent with relevant federal protections and regulations (including 45 CFR Part 87 and related statutory provisions).

ACF also explicitly allows applicant organizations to submit more than one application, including submitting on behalf of more than one researcher, as long as each application is distinct in scope. In practice, that means a university, research institute, nonprofit, or similar organization could propose multiple separate projects (for example, different datasets, different research questions, or different analytic teams) without being limited to a single submission, provided each stands on its own and is not duplicative.

Overall, this opportunity is designed to turn existing Head Start-related data into actionable evidence that can improve policy and program administration, while also strengthening the research-to-practice pipeline in the Head Start ecosystem. The emphasis is not only on producing credible analyses, but also on making those results accessible and useful for decision-makers and stakeholders who shape or deliver Head Start services.

• The Administration for Children and Families - OPRE in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Secondary Analyses of Head Start Data" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.600.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for HHS 2024 ACF OPRE YR 0093

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