For More Than 60 Years, Head Start Has Been a Lifeline for Children, Families, and Communities

The recently proposed changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards have sparked urgent and critical conversations across our field. While the stated goal is to reduce regulatory burden and increase local flexibility, many of the proposed changes would significantly reduce long-standing federal standards that have helped define what makes Head Start unique.

As someone who has dedicated her career to advancing high-quality early childhood education, I believe we must ask a simple question: What do children stand to gain, and what do they stand to lose? Who will bear the greatest cost if these changes move forward?

The answer is all of us, but especially children, families, and educators.

Head Start Has Never Focused Only on Preparing Children for Kindergarten

It is a comprehensive approach that supports children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development in conjunction with partnering with families to break cycles of poverty. It recognizes that children do not learn in isolation, quite the contrary, they thrive when their families are supported, their health needs are addressed, and their educators have the resources to provide high-quality experiences.

Weakening standards around comprehensive services, educator support, class sizes, family engagement, and other core program requirements could have far-reaching implications for the children and families who rely on Head Start every day.

This conversation is much bigger than regulations and we need to open our eyes even wider.

We believe every child, regardless of where they are born or their family's income, deserves access to high-quality early learning experiences. We value the professionals who dedicate their lives to this work. And we are willing to continue investing in one of our nation's most important anti-poverty and early childhood education initiatives.

If These Proposals Are Finalized, They Could Mean:

Larger class sizes and higher child-to-teacher ratios

Resulting in less individualized attention for children during their most critical years of development.

Fewer requirements for family engagement and support services

Making it more difficult for families to access resources related to health, housing, employment, and other essential needs.

Reduced expectations for comprehensive services

Including health and developmental screenings that often identify concerns before children enter kindergarten.

Greater variation in quality from one state to another

As federal standards give way to state and local requirements that may differ significantly.

Head Start Connects Parents to Health Care, Nutrition, Disability Services, Mental Health Supports, and Family Engagement Opportunities

Weakening these expectations risks placing even greater burdens on families already navigating significant challenges and exacerbates already existing difficulties.

Berna ArtisExecutive Director, DCAEYC