The Trump administration has announced plans to overhaul Head Start, the federal early education program for disadvantaged children, by eliminating most of its regulations. Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services said the changes aim to encourage local decision-making and boost enrollment, but advocates fear it will undermine the program's core mission.
Proposed Changes and Reactions
The proposal, unveiled on Thursday, would scrap about 1,400 regulations, including standards for staff-to-student ratios, requirements for family support services, health screenings, and even a mandate for children to brush their teeth at school. Instead, Head Start operators would rely on state and local childcare licensing requirements for guidance.
Alex JAdams, an assistant secretary at health and human services, said the department hopes to give centers flexibility. "Federal mandates can certainly hinder local decision-making, drive up costs and limit the program's reach," Adams said. He highlighted a decade-long decline in enrollment, adding, "If we get this proposed rule right, we will grow the number of Head Start slots."
Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, spoke reverently about the program, which was started by his uncle Sargent Shriver under President Lyndon B Johnson. "It's a program that works for the most vulnerable of the poorest kids in our society, and it's really important we protect it," Kennedy said.
Advocates and Former Leaders Express Concern
Current and former Head Start leaders criticized the changes. Khari Garvin, who oversaw Head Start under former President Joe Biden, said, "This version of Head Start is a shell of the program. This is a deeply diluted version of the program, which, in my view, will cause child and community outcomes to wane."
Head Start serves about 700,000 of the nation's most vulnerable children, including those who are homeless, in foster care, or disabled. The overhaul could make it harder for out-of-work or homeless parents to enroll their children, as requirements for wraparound services like medical and dental screenings and parent coaching would be dropped.
New Requirements and Financial Pressures
While the proposal largely loosens rules, it adds some new ones: staff must deliver all instruction in English (except in tribal immersion programs), administrative expenses capped at 5% (down from 15%), and 30 minutes of physical activity per three and a half hours of program time. New nutrition standards, championed by Kennedy, would require more nutrition education for families, including warnings about "the negative health consequences of sugar-sweetened beverages and grain-based desserts."
Adams estimated the new rules could save over $2bn and allow Head Start to serve more children. However, advocates note that many centers face financial pressure from rising costs, and the administration has not proposed increasing the program's $12bn annual funding. Without regulations on class sizes and services, operators might be forced to lay off staff or cut offerings like developmental screenings.
Public Comment and Legal Challenges
The public will have 60 days to comment before the rule takes effect, though legal challenges could delay implementation. The administration previously laid off much of Head Start's support staff and closed half of its regional offices.
