Head Start NPRM - General Comment
Your perspective, experiences and expertise are critical to informing key decisions about Head Start and the potential impacts of these decisions on the children and families the program serves. Use your voice today - tell the Department of Health and Human Services what you think of their proposal to change Head Start.
You can use the form below to share your perspective on the proposed changes. The proposal would eliminate nearly all of the current standards that keep children safe and ensure they get a high quality education, replacing them with just a few, mostly vague requirements. Among other things, the proposal would:
- Increase child to teacher ratios, making classes bigger and reducing the care and attention each child receives
- Makes it difficult, if not impossible, for dual language children to learn English by barring teachers from educating them - even a little - in their native language
- Require homeless families and those without income to provide non-existent documentation proving they are homeless or have no income
- Removes requirements that staff be highly qualified and trained in order to save money, putting vulnerable children in the care of cheaper, less qualified staff
- Allows vulnerable children with mental health challenges to be expelled from Head Start programs at the time when they need support the most
For more information about the harms of this proposed rule, click on the learn more tab below.