09/01/2026
Dear Friend of Head Start,
The Office of Head Start released their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM): Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs. We have been thoroughly reviewing and discussing the impacts of these proposed changes to our community, the State, and the Nation. We are reaching out to keep you updated on the immediate concerns of this NPRM. It is important to remember that this is a proposed rule change and is not final yet.
In the NPRM’s effort to reduce duplication and burdens for programs and have them defer to state policies, we are concerned that we will lose the very thing that defines Head Start. Below are the immediate concerns from this NPRM:
• The rule would increase class size and reduce the teacher workforce.
• The rule would lower wages for Head Start staff and not allow programs to incentivize staff who further their degree.
• The rule would require Head Start programs to provide shorter school days and fewer days per year.
• The rule also limits some of the comprehensive services we provide to our children.
• The rule limits parent involvement by making parent committees optional and reducing their role.
• The rule would eliminate jobs for Head Start home visitors, Family Service Workers, Child Development Specialists, and Coaches.
• The rule would reduce program quality for dual language learners and their families by mandating that all teaching and learning is done in English, including prohibiting classroom materials from being in languages other than English (i.e. children’s books).
So what can you do? The Department has a public comment period open until October 6th. You can submit a comment to tell your story (what Head Start means to you) and ask HHS to withdraw the changes significantly and revise the proposed rule with direct input from programs and families.
Submit a comment:
This NPRM proposes to rescind and replace the Head Start Program Performance Standards (Performance Standards), last revised in 2024. The proposed Performance Standards would significantly reduce Federal bureaucratic burden on programs; defer to State policies wherever possible; return...
