Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) is leading a bicameral group of lawmakers in opposing the Trump Administration’s proposed overhaul of Head Start, a federal program dedicated to improving academic and health outcomes for children.
How does the Head Start Program improve outcomes? The program provides comprehensive early learning and family support services nationwide, particularly in rural and low-income communities.
What are the proposed changes? In August, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards that effectively eliminate the central mechanism for evaluating and ensuring the quality of early childhood education services provided through Head Start.
The administration’s proposal could jeopardize access to quality early learning and child care services for more than 700,000 children nationwide.
What Sen. Raphael Warnock and his coalition had to say in the letter:
- “We write to express our strong opposition to the proposed rule, ‘Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs,’ which seeks to illegally dismantle Head Start by removing over 90 percent of standards that ensure children receive high-quality early education and comprehensive services.
- “This proposal is a blatant effort to gut core aspects of this longstanding, anti-poverty program and is in direct conflict with the Head Start Act.
- “Let us be very clear: what you are proposing seriously weakens the high-quality, comprehensive research-backed services required by law, undermines access to critical services, restricts access for children and families, and creates uncertainty for Head Start programs across the nation.
- “Under your proposal, 80% of children in Head Start will face worse staff-to-child ratios. Nearly 1 in 10 children currently served in Head Start could become ineligible for services overnight. Key Head Start health, dental, mental health, and developmental services will be reduced nationwide.”
Further Context: As a proud Head Start alum and founding member of the Head Start to Congress Caucus, Sen. Warnock has long championed the program and its mission.
Earlier this year, he joined a bicameral coalition in opposing a similar HHS proposal that would eliminate salary increases and improvements to employment benefits for full-time Head Start staff.
