Nebraska Head Start Association

09/02/2026

Federal officials are considering changes to Head Start that could significantly reduce standards for the program’s many support services. These changes would remove evidence-based guidance for services including support for children with disabilities, health care coordination, home visiting for pregnant women and services that promote young children’s development.
These are among the reasons we are encouraging Head Start supporters, families, providers and community partners to review the proposal and submit a public comment in opposition to the proposed changes by the October 6 deadline.
Learn more about the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from First Five Nebraska: https://firstfivenebraska.org/blog/first-five-nebraska-mobilizes-to-protect-head-start/

Click here to submit your comment at the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/07/2026-16134/reducing-federal-burden-for-head-start-programs

09/01/2026

Parental engagement is a core pillar for Head Start. But newly proposed federal rules could reduce parental voice and family engagement in the program. Parent committees and attendance follow-up activities at local sites would become optional under the new rules, leading to less consistency in family engagement and school readiness for children.

However, Head Start supporters, families, providers and community partners have the opportunity to make their voices heard on these proposals. You can review the proposal and submit a public comment in opposition to the proposed changes prior to the October 6 public comment deadline.

Learn more about the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from First Five Nebraska: https://firstfivenebraska.org/blog/first-five-nebraska-mobilizes-to-protect-head-start/

Click here to submit your comment at the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/07/2026-16134/reducing-federal-burden-for-head-start-programs

08/27/2026

Built into the proposed rules that federal officials are considering to Head Start is an assumption that programs would reduce staffing, including teachers, family service workers, health personnel and child development specialists. The proposal also assumes a reduction in service hours for center-based programs. This could have profound effects on families and communities by reducing the services they need to remain engaged and productive in the workforce.

The public has until October 6 to weigh in on Head Start’s newly proposed rules. We encourage Head Start supporters, families, providers and community partners to review the proposal and submit a public comment in opposition to the proposed changes.

Learn more about the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from First Five Nebraska: https://firstfivenebraska.org/blog/first-five-nebraska-mobilizes-to-protect-head-start/

Click here to submit your comment at the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/07/2026-16134/reducing-federal-burden-for-head-start-programs

08/25/2026

Head Start was created to ensure that children, regardless of their family’s income, have access to consistent, high-quality early learning experiences, from one-on-one teacher interactions to additional supports like dental care and vision screenings. Replacing national standards with a patchwork of state and local ones could create a system in which the quality of a child’s experience depends on where they live.

As federal officials consider changes to Head Start that could reduce these standards, we encourage Head Start supporters, families, providers and community partners to review the proposal and submit a public comment in opposition to the proposed changes prior to the October 6 public comment deadline.

Learn more about the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from First Five Nebraska: https://firstfivenebraska.org/blog/first-five-nebraska-mobilizes-to-protect-head-start/

Click here to submit your comment at the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/07/2026-16134/reducing-federal-burden-for-head-start-programs

08/21/2026

Among the changes federal officials are considering to Head Start is a proposal to lower the cap on administrative overhead from 15% to 5%. Reduction in the coverage of these expenses would constrain Head Start operations, especially for grantees who have less organizational or community support. The federal administration acknowledged that only 3.7% of Head Start grantees nationwide spend 5% or less of their total approved program costs on administration.
The public has until October 6 to weigh in on Head Start’s newly proposed rules. We encourage Head Start supporters, families, providers and community partners to review the proposal and submit a public comment against the proposed changes.

Learn more about the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from First Five Nebraska: https://firstfivenebraska.org/administrative-policy/

Click here to submit your comment at the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/07/2026-16134/reducing-federal-burden-for-head-start-programs

08/19/2026

Head Start’s intensive, high-quality model has demonstrated clear benefits for the nation’s lowest-income families. Specific provisions in the federal proposal, including group size limits and home visitor frequency and caseload limits could weaken quality and undermine the program’s ability to consistently deliver strong early childhood outcomes.

As federal officials consider changes to Head Start that could reduce these standards, we encourage Head Start supporters, families, providers and community partners to review the proposal and submit a public comment against the proposed changes prior to the October 6 public comment deadline.

Learn more about the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from First Five Nebraska: https://firstfivenebraska.org/administrative-policy/

Click here to submit your comment at the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/07/2026-16134/reducing-federal-burden-for-head-start-programs

08/18/2026

Head Start parents and caregivers: Our special Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) webinar is tomorrow!

The federal government has proposed changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the rules that help guide how Head Start programs serve children and families. Your perspective is important as the Head Start community learns more about what is being proposed and prepares to respond.

Join us on August 18, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. ET. NHSA’s Government Affairs team will share the latest updates, answer questions, listen to parents’ concerns, and talk about how the Head Start community can make its voice heard.

Register today and be part of the conversation about the future of Head Start: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XdFO0r6fRWSHMtMeCaYZfA #/registration

08/18/2026

Head Start needs your help.

Federal officials are considering changes to the program that could significantly affect its ability to serve more than 700,000 children across the country, including 5,000 children in Nebraska.

The proposal includes provisions that could weaken quality standards and undermine Head Start’s proven model for consistently delivering high-quality early learning outcomes and other comprehensive services to children and families. It would also reduce the administrative cap to unsustainable levels for programs.

The public has until October 6 to weigh in. Please review the proposal and submit a public comment opposing the rule changes.

Learn more on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM): https://firstfivenebraska.org/administrative-policy/?fbclid=IwcGRvZgVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE1b3RjNWVxNFZFVFFrcUs1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHv2fqIRo_UNaEP5m7gLtnAORT0uH9okmml9nX8LALkq5g9wgrS_X6Pb6qB2w_aem_xMPpDBIBv1-yvckOPBM4Hw

Submit a public comment on the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/07/2026-16134/reducing-federal-burden-for-head-start-programs?fbclid=IwcGRvZgVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE1b3RjNWVxNFZFVFFrcUs1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHgENwLZB8fzP-5j9l1fussVrhiLotViWkEv1bLqSduxN1HaWWBUWijQ0iyn4_aem_08vGl74TjadtyYx4NuzPWg

07/08/2026

We mourn the loss of Rhodanne Schiller and remember the impact she made on the lives of so many. Her kindness, warmth, and presence will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Region VII Head Start Association mourns the loss of a true friend and colleague, Rhodanne Schiller, who passed away on July 2nd.

Rhodanne Schiller was a generous, dedicated, and skilled teacher/instructor, who spent many years teaching children. She devoted decades of her life to improving early childhood education, as a respected consultant with the Region VII Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Team. Rhodanne was recognized numerous times for the work she did, both during her career and after her retirement at age 71.

Our hearts are with her family during this time of deep loss, and we join them in honoring a life marked by compassion, warmth, wisdom, and an unwavering commitment to helping children, families, colleagues, and friends flourish. May those who loved her find comfort in the beautiful legacy Rhodanne leaves behind and in the many lives she touched.

“A life that touches others goes on forever.”

parklawnfunerals.com/obituaries/rhodanne-schiller

07/07/2026