The Trump administration is planning a significant overhaul of the Head Start program that could diminish its quality standards, according to two individuals familiar with the deliberations. The proposed changes would replace the program's extensive regulations with a much shorter set of rules, leaving many specifics to state and local laws.
Head Start, established in the 1960s to combat poverty, is widely regarded by experts as a premier early learning program. Its current regulations, spanning over 100 pages, detail requirements for aspects such as child-to-teacher ratios, health screenings, and family engagement. The administration's proposal would reduce these to approximately a dozen pages, according to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the information not being public and fear of reprisal.
An early version of the draft rules reportedly included provisions requiring more documentation from parents who are homeless or unemployed. It also considered barring undocumented immigrants from enrolling their children, even if the children are U.S. citizens, though it remains unclear if these specific measures will be included in the final proposal.
The program serves over half a million low-income infants, toddlers, and preschoolers nationwide, offering free preschool, developmental delay screenings, and family support services.
Critics argue that such changes could fundamentally alter the program. Khari Garvin, former head of the Office of Head Start under President Joe Biden, stated that the program could become unrecognizable, resembling "the carcass of Head Start."
The potential overhaul aligns with efforts by some conservatives to reduce or eliminate the program, and it reflects the administration's broader push to cut regulations deemed unnecessary.
The National Head Start Association has expressed anxiety about the potential changes, though they have not yet seen the proposed rules. "We're very anxious," said Tommy Sheridan, deputy director of the association. "When it does come out ... we’ll be ready to fight back where we need to fight back."
Implementation of any new rules would involve a public comment period of at least one month, followed by further time for finalization, and could potentially face legal challenges.
The proposal reportedly includes some new requirements, such as mandating English as the language of instruction. However, it would eliminate or loosen many existing requirements, including those concerning staff-to-student ratios and safety standards. The new proposal also reportedly omits any mention of suspensions and expulsions, which could make it easier for programs to remove children with disabilities.
Head Start has faced previous challenges during the Trump administration. A conservative policy blueprint known as Project 2025 called for the federal government to discontinue the program. In a previous draft budget, the administration proposed ending federal mandates on curriculum and performance standards for education programs. Following public backlash, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. assured Congress that the program's funding was secure.
Funding for Head Start has been disrupted at various times since Trump took office, leading to temporary program closures. Additionally, earlier this year, Trump administration officials rescinded a Biden-era rule aimed at increasing pay and benefits for Head Start employees, the majority of whom have bachelor's degrees but earned less than $40,000 annually on average before the rule's intended implementation.