Illinois Head Start Association

09/03/2026

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the federal agency that oversees Head Start, has proposed changes to Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS). The proposal is called "Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs." If this proposal moves forward as written, it will change how Head Start programs operate.

IHSA wants to hear from Illinois Head Start program leaders, direct line professionals, parents and community partners about how these changes would affect services, children, staff, and families.

We value input from our Head Start community. We're gathering real examples from your day-to-day work, and that's what these sessions are for. We're holding seven focus groups over Zoom during the week of September 8-11. Each group is one hour and covers a different part of the proposed rule.

Registration is free. Click each link below to sign up for the group(s) that fits you best and come ready to share how these changes would affect you.

Sign up today. On behalf of IHSA, thank you for helping make sure Illinois programs are heard.

Parent Leaders - Tuesday, September 8, 11:00 am-12:00 pm, https://bit.ly/4x8blR9

Program Governance and ERSEA - Tuesday, September 8, 1:00-2:00 pm, https://bit.ly/4qRa6EB

Fiscal, Administrative, and HR Requirements - Wednesday, September 9, 10:00-11:00 am, https://bit.ly/4zT7slF

Program Structure and Services for Pregnant Women - Thursday, September 10, 10:00-11:00 am, https://bit.ly/4gMYPk2

Education, Child Development, Transitions, and Disabilities - Friday, September 11, 11:00 am-12:00 pm, https://bit.ly/4gBu5DL

Health, Mental Health, and Family and Community Partnerships - Friday, September 11, 1:00-2:00 pm, https://bit.ly/4gNhADE

Community and Program Partners - Friday, September 11, 2:00-3:00 pm, https://bit.ly/3UoEWZ7

09/03/2026

“Health and safety for us is huge, and for all Head Start programs.”

Head Start and Parent and Child Together - PACT for West Central Illinois work to make a difference in communities across in Hancock, McDonough, Adams, Schuyler, Brown, Cass, Pike, and Scott counties in Illinois. That impact is worth talking about.

The NPRM places threat on the impact of Head Start nation wide. Please ask Congress to urge HHS to withdraw this proposal: "Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs" (Docket No. ACF-2026-0595).

09/03/2026

“Head Start serves about 28,000 children with some 8,500 staff across the 102 counties of Illinois.”

Thank you to Quincy Herald-Whig and Deborah Gertz Husar for their interview with Illinois Head Start Executive Director Lauri Morrison-Frichtl and Quincy’s PACT Executive Director Sara Mixer. We appreciate the time spent to help share our concerns and the impact Head Start has on local communities.

For more details of the interview, read the full article posted by Quincy Herald-Whig.

Please ask Congress to urge HHS to withdraw this proposal: "Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs" (Docket No. ACF-2026-0595).

QUINCY — The executive director of the Illinois Head Start Association wants residents to show their support for the federal program serving the state’s youngest learners. A new rule proposed […]

09/03/2026

“Not only do their children have a safe, enjoyable place to come during the day, but we also provide support services behind the scenes.”

Head Start and Parent and Child Together - PACT for West Central Illinois work to make a difference in communities across West Central Illinois, and that impact is worth talking about.

Stay tuned for the rest of the interview later today!

The NPRM places threat on the impact of Head Start nation wide. Please ask Congress to urge HHS to withdraw this proposal: "Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs" (Docket No. ACF-2026-0595).

09/02/2026

“We should be looking at programs like Head Start that are working, and see how we can be more helpful with funding (and) with enforcements to help them succeed.” — Illinois House Minority Leader McCombie.

Head Start services make a difference in communities across the all 102 counties in Illinois, and that impact is worth standing up for.

The NPRM threatens the impact of Head Start nation wide. Please ask Congress to urge HHS to withdraw this proposal: "Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs" (Docket No. ACF-2026-0595).

09/02/2026

Thank you to KHQA and Caytlin Pendleton for their interview with Illinois Head Start Executive Director Lauri Morrison-Frichtl, and for diving into the proposed actions in the NPRM. We thank you for helping us carry this message to all congressional districts across Illinois.

For more details of the interview, read the full article posted by KHQA.

Please ask Congress to urge HHS to withdraw this proposal: "Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs" (Docket No. ACF-2026-0595).

QUINCY, Ill.— Illinois Head Start Association officials are asking government officials to resend the Notice of a Proposed Rulemaking. It provides assistance to families all across the state.

09/02/2026

The government wants to change how Head Start works. It says the change could add 236,000 spots and save 2.2 billion dollars a year. But the proposal sends no new money.

Here is how it proposes to work. Programs would spend less on each child, then use the leftover money to sign up more children.

The problem is that this proposal doesn't create more money. It only moves around money that has already been approved. In Illinois, that money is stretched thin already.

Serving more children should not mean every child gets less.

Nothing has been decided yet. This is a proposal, and the government has to hear from the public first. Anyone can speak up. The deadline is October 6, 2026.

Scan the QR code on the card to speak up through IHSA, or read the proposal yourself at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/ACF-2026-0595

09/01/2026

As Guam’s Senator Bennet explained:
“There is a difference between cutting red tape and cutting a protection… A teacher isn’t red tape. A bus monitor isn’t paperwork.”
Thank you to WGEM News - The Tri-States' News Leader for speaking with Illinois Head Start Executive Director Lauri Morrison-Frichtl and helping us carry this message to congressional districts across Illinois.
Read the full WGEM interview for more.
Then take action at www.ilheadstart.org: Ask Congress to urge HHS to withdraw “Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs” (Docket No. ACF-2026-0595).

Illinois Head Start Association representatives are condemning a new directive from the Trump administration that is targeting its programs services.

09/01/2026

Head Start HIRES & Jobs Board SEPT'26 .. See the employment possibilities for YOU throughout Chicagoland & Downstate Illinois! Are your friends looking for meaningful new challenges? Encourage their interest in a Head Start / Early Head Start Career! - https://www.viethconsulting.com/msg_detail.php?mid=226849315 - (Note: our member agencies do post new listings on their own websites at any given time.)