Head Start Updates
10/23 Statewide Day of Action for Head Start
Tuesday, May 25, 2027
We invite Head Start staff, families, and community members to join us for an inspiring day at the State Capitol in Sacramento! Please note that this event has been moved from March to May, so be sure to save the date now.
Begin the morning with an issue briefing to learn about the current early childhood care and education landscape and the key issues impacting Head Start. Then, join us as we march to the State Capitol to raise awareness about the vital role Head Start plays in strengthening children, families, and communities. In the afternoon, meet with your legislators and share your personal story about why Head Start matters.
Find out more information and register here!
10/19 What’s Next for the Proposed Head Start Rule
With the comment period closed, HHS will now review and respond to the public comments as the rulemaking process moves forward. Start Early and Together for Head Start are hosting a webinar on Thursday, October 22, at 11:00 a.m. PT to explain what comes next. The webinar is open to everyone in the early childhood community, including Head Start program leaders, parents and families, community partners, and advocates.
Register for the Webinar
Lawmakers Urge HHS to Protect Head Start
Members of Congress and the California Legislature from both parties have sent letters raising concerns about the proposed Head Start rule.
Read Congressman Kevin Kiley’s (I-CA-03) Letter to HHS
Read the Bipartisan Letter from 41 California Legislators to California’s Congressional Delegation
Read the Letter from 190 Democratic Members of Congress to HHS
Read the Bipartisan Letter from Congressmen Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) and James Gallagher (R-CA-01) to HHS
Read Congressman David Valadao’s (R-CA-22) Letter to HHS
10/06 Head Start NPRM Public Comment is Now CLOSED
Thank you for submitting comments and raising your voice at a time when Head Start is in jeopardy. Over 40,000 public comments were sent to the federal government on the Proposed Rulemaking: Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs.
Read the Proposed Head Start Rule
Read Submitted Public Comments
Read TFC's Public Comment
Need a proposed federal rule comment guide for the future? See TFC's Head Start NPRM Comment Guide and Template
09/16 National Head Start Association Releases Initial Draft of Public Comment on Proposed Changes to Head Start Performance Standards
08/07 Head Start NPRM Released: What Programs and Advocates Need to Know
The highly anticipated Head Start NPRM was released Thursday, August 6th. In brief, the NPRM removes all of the existing Head Start Program Performance Standards and replaces them with a few short, politically motivated standards.
Instead of evidence-based best practices, the new standards would:
- Require all classroom instruction be in English only
- Eliminate evidence-based teacher-child ratio and group size requirements that support classroom quality, safety, and individualized learning.
- Remove key requirements related to serving children with disabilities, raising concerns about equitable access to the services and supports that help children fully participate and thrive alongside their peers.
- Impose new administrative cost caps on local programs that, when combined with years of funding challenges, could force many programs to reduce staffing or services.
