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Head Start overhaul would eliminate many federal regulations

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The Trump administration is moving forward with a major overhaul of Head Start that would eliminate many federal regulations governing the early childhood education program and give local operators greater flexibility.

The Department of Health and Human Services unveiled the proposal last week, arguing that reducing federal requirements could lower costs, increase local control and allow Head Start to serve more children. The public will have 60 days to comment before the administration moves toward final rules.

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Head Start serves about 700,000 children nationwide, primarily from low-income families, as well as children who are homeless, in foster care or have disabilities. Eligibility for those children would not change.

The proposal would eliminate most of the program’s more than 100 pages of federal regulations. Those rules currently set standards for such areas as staff-to-child ratios, educational curriculum, medical and dental screenings and services designed to assist children’s families.

Instead, Head Start’s approximately 1,600 operators, including nonprofit organizations and school districts, would rely more heavily on state and local child care licensing requirements.

Administration officials estimate the changes could save more than $2 billion and potentially free resources to create additional Head Start openings. Enrollment in the program has declined over the past decade.

The plan would retain some federal requirements while adding others. Administrative expenses would be capped at 5% of program spending, down from the current 15%, and new nutrition requirements would be established.

Early childhood education advocates have raised concerns that state child care regulations are generally less stringent than Head Start standards. State rules tend to emphasize basic health and safety and often do not require educational standards, family support services or health screenings. Some states also permit significantly higher numbers of children per staff member.

Head Start was established in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said the administration intends to preserve the program and its funding while changing how it operates.

The final rules could face legal challenges that could delay their implementation.

Source: PBS

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