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Advocacy

The Office of Head Start Administration for Children and Families under the U.S. Department of Children and Families has proposed new rules governing the Head Start Standards. This has tremendous implications on the quality of the Head Start program and local grantees funding, capacity, and credibility throughout the country.  The proposed rules will also impact the children and families served by the 61 year old program.  Head Start is more than just a preschool program.  They require a health, including oral health assessment and tracking, family engagement, home visits, and referrals to vital health and human services.  Right now 10% of the enrollment is dedicated to all children with special needs regardless of income.  

Head Start is one of the longest researched early childhood intervention in the world.  The standards have laid the ground work for other early childhood programs including Michigan's Great Start Readiness programs for 3 and 4 year olds.

For more information and to submit your own comments please visit:  

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/07/2026-16134/reducing-federal-burden-for-head-start-programs#

Please use this example and tailor it for your organization if you want to send a comment. 

Office of Head Start Administration for Children and Families U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

RE: Comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, “Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Program” (RIN 0970-AD30) 

 appreciates the opportunity to comment on the proposed rule, Reducing Fedral Burden for Head Start Programs. «

Description of organization is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to »

. Head Start and Early Head Start are important components of Michigan’s early childhood systems, connecting children and families to early learning as well as health, nutrition, developmental, mental health and family support services. 

In FY 2024, Michigan had more than 25,000 federally funded Head Start and Early Head Start slots. 

 urges the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to preserve federal standards that protect children’s health, development, safety and access to services. We encourage the ACF to ensure efforts to streamline program requirements do not inadvertently reduce access to essential health, developmental and family supports or create greater variation in the quality and availability of services across states and communities. 

 is concerned the proposed shift toward greater reliance on state and local requirements could result in increased variation in Head Start services and quality. While state and local flexibility can allow programs to respond to community needs, Head Start serves children and families across communities under a common federal framework. Federal standards provide consistency in the core services and protections families can expect regardless of where they live. We encourage ACF to preserve a strong federal baseline while identifying opportunities for appropriate state and local flexibility. 

 is particularly concerned about proposed changes to developmental screening and assessment requirements. Early screening provides an important opportunity to identify developmental, behavioral, hearing and vision concerns while connecting children and families with appropriate services before school entry. For many families, Head Start may be one of their last consistent points of connection to referrals and supportive services before a child reaches kindergarten. If screening requirements are weakened, children may enter school without a developmental or health concern being identified or a referral being made. This is particularly important for children who rely on Medicaid. Head Start can serve as an important point of identification and referral, while Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit can provide eligible children access to medically necessary services. Weakening screening and referral requirements could create gaps between identification, referral and treatment. 

We also have concerns about proposed changes to oral health requirements. Maintaining clear federal expectations related to preventive oral health practices and dental screenings is particularly important given the oral health needs of children served by Head Start. Head Start’s role in identifying concerns and connecting families to dental care complements Medicaid’s EPSDT benefit and can help ensure needs are addressed. Weakening Head Start’s oral health requirements could create gaps in care. 

 recommends maintaining group-size and staff-child ratio requirements. These standards allow children to receive individualized attention and build consistent relationships with teaching staff. For infants and children in particular, consistent relationships and responsive care are important to healthy development. Head Start’s comprehensive approach also supports families’ ability to work, attend school, maintain appointments and access needed services. During the 2023-2024 program year, Head Start served approximately 730,751 families, providing connections to services including housing assistance, health insurance, job training, adult education and services for children with disabilities. These supports can help families remain connected to employment and education while ensuring that children’s needs are addressed. 

We are also concerned about the proposed removal of specific protections for children experiencing homelessness. Families experiencing homelessness may face frequent moves, loss of documentation, limited access to reliable communication and other barriers to enrollment. Maintaining clear procedures for identifying and supporting children experiencing homelessness is important to ensuring that eligible children can access Head Start services. 

 respectfully urges ACF to preserve federal standards related to developmental screening and referrals, oral health, group size and staff-child ratios, comprehensive family supports, continued protections for children experiencing homelessness and consistent core program requirements, while pursuing targeted reductions in unnecessary administrative burdens. Maintaining a strong federal baseline will help ensure Head Start continues to serve as an important connection between young children, families, early learning, health care and other essential services without creating unnecessary variation in the quality or availability of those services. 

Thank you for your consideration of these comments and for your commitment to the health and well-being of children and families served by Head Start and Early Head Start.

Sample response regarding proposed changes to Head Start Standards

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