The Head Start program began in 1965 as a way to combat the growing number of families with young children living in poverty. It was created to be a half-day preschool program for children between the ages of 3-5 to help them be prepared for kindergarten. By 1977, the program had reserved slots for children with disabilities and a bilingual and bicultural component, and in 1995, Early Head Start was created to serve pregnant mothers through toddlers.

Today, Head Start continues to be a critical program that provides wraparound services for some of our country’s most vulnerable children, including:

  • Developmental screenings and support services for children with disabilities
  • Medical, dental, vision, hearing, and behavioral screenings
  • Nutritious meals and snacks
  • Diapers and formula for children in the Early Head Start program
  • Counseling and trauma-informed services for children and families
  • Parent education
  • Connection to family support services like SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid

Numbers for 2025, according to the First Five Year Fund:

  • 16,279 enrolled (12,162 in Head Start and 4,117 in Early Head Start)
  • 1,024 foster children served (6% of total Head Start population)
  • 1,193 children experiencing homelessness served (7% of total Head Start population)
  • 2,672 children with disabilities served (16% of total Head Start population)
  • 1,469 employees working in Head Start/Early Head Start
  • $213,172,805 came into Kentucky for Early Head Start/Head Start in 358 program sites
  • 33% of children that qualify for Head Start are still not served

On August 6th, the federal Administration of Children and Families released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) proposing to change the regulations that govern the Head Start and Early Head Start program. These changes include:

  • Personnel changes
    • Revoking requirements for staff salaries and benefits.
    • Eliminating the education requirements for staff – Previously, lead Head Start teachers had to have a four year degree and co-teachers in Early Head Start (birth to 3) had to have a Child Development Associate’s certificate.
    • Decreasing the administrative cap from 15% to 5% – As a result, essential administrative staff like family service caseworkers and technical assistance coaches may be eliminated.
  • Funding cuts
    • Reducing additional funds for partnership sites (private child care programs that have Head Start slots) that may be keeping programs financially stable.
    • Eliminating additional services for infants & toddlers and children with disabilities. 
  • Programmatic policies
    • Requiring that all teaching must be done in English, which will dramatically impact the Migrant Head Start program in Kentucky where the classrooms are bilingual. Staff that can not speak English fluently enough to teach will not be able to keep their position.
    • Revoking the previous policy prohibiting suspension and expulsion of enrolled children. 
  • Family engagement and eligibility 
    • Reducing parent involvement by eliminating the requirement of parent/community advisory councils and no longer requiring parent education.
    • Enforcing additional requirements for families to prove they are homeless in order to qualify for eligibility.

If these changes go into effect, the Head Start program – which supports approximately 800,000 children per year across the United States – will see negative changes and reduced quality of services.  

Take Action

These proposed changes will go through a 60-day public comment period, ending October 5th at midnight, prior to anything being formalized. This two-month period is the general public’s opportunity to speak up for Head Start. 

Advocates can take action by posting a comment on why these changes will negatively impact Kentucky kids and families.