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Media Release: Head Start California Highlights Immense Public and Bipartisan Support

Date postedOctober 20, 2026
Media Releases,

Head Start California Highlights Immense Public and Bipartisan Support for Protecting Head Start Quality Standards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2026

SACRAMENTO, CA — Head Start California is highlighting the overwhelming public support for maintaining Head Start Program Performance Standards following the Department of Health and Human Services’ publication of its proposed rule, Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs. The HHS proposal would fundamentally alter the Head Start model, undermining quality, weakening outcomes, increasing administrative burden, and reducing the number of children and families served.

According to Press Audit, an independent news data platform, the HHS proposed rule received 39,686 comments during the 60-day Federal Register public comment period, of which 25,574 were analyzed. Of those analyzed, 22,621 (88.5%) opposed the HHS proposal to change Head Start Program Performance Standards, while just 1,597 (5.3%) expressed support. The remaining comments were categorized as unclear in their position on the proposal.

Key concerns expressed in the public comments opposing HHS’s proposal include:

  • Increased Classroom Sizes: A 16-32% increase in classroom sizes will make it more difficult to recruit and retain qualified teachers. Head Start educators support children with often intensive developmental and behavioral needs while helping families access essential services, yet they frequently earn lower wages and receive fewer benefits than they could elsewhere. Placing additional demands on an already strained workforce is unlikely to resolve the enrollment challenges HHS claims the proposed rule is intended to address. Instead, these changes risk compromising program quality and forcing more Head Start programs to close.

  • Weakening Staff Qualifications and Services: The proposed changes would remove qualifications for nonteaching roles, to intentionally depress wages for already underpaid staff. It would also prohibit incentivizing higher education, which would eliminate popular apprenticeship programs that allow parents to become teachers, and create serious barriers for entry-level teachers who want to continue their education and advance their careers. T Lower wages, less opportunity for career advancement, and fewer qualifications will weaken important services and Head Start programs as a whole.

  • English-Only Mandate: Roughly one-third of children enrolled in Head Start speak a language other than English at home. The proposed English-only mandate contradicts research showing that children develop English proficiency most effectively when learning builds on their native language. It also conflicts with the Head Start Act’s emphasis on culturally and linguistically responsive services that meet families’ needs and support multilingual development. Restricting the use of children’s native languages could hinder learning, create potential safety hazards, and limit programs’ ability to serve the diverse communities they support.

  • Reduced Service Hours: By reverting to 1994 duration standards, the proposal would eliminate the 1,020-hour annual service requirement, potentially cutting service hours nearly in half for programs in states like California. Families would be forced to find alternative care for the remaining hours, which may be difficult or impossible to access at a comparable level of quality in some communities. These reductions would disrupt children’s learning and place additional burdens on working families who rely on Head Start for consistent, high-quality care, education, and wraparound services they cannot obtain elsewhere.

  • Shifting Administrative Burden Rather Than Reducing It: Although HHS’ proposal claims to reduce red tape, it would instead shift the burden of compliance onto local staff. Without one clear set of national standards, center directors would need to navigate a patchwork of state regulations, state and Federal laws, the Head Start Act, and guidance that has yet to be released. This uncertainty would increase administrative demands and legal risks for local programs, potentially leading to compliance failures and even grant termination.

  • Economic Impact on Communities: Head Start is an economic driver in communities, enabling parents to pursue education and employment while preparing children for future success. By reducing program quality and access to reliable care, the proposed changes could make it harder for families to remain in the workforce and limit the supply of skilled workers that communities depend on. Families who lose access to Head Start may also face greater financial instability and increased reliance on taxpayer-funded assistance programs.

You can find the full Press Audit overview here.

In addition to the public’s overwhelming opposition to the proposed changes, Head Start California applauds the bipartisan efforts by members of the California Legislature and California’s Congressional Delegation to urge Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to withdraw the proposed changes to Head Start’s Program Performance Standards. Please see the following:

Together, these efforts underscore concern about the proposed changes and a shared commitment to protecting Head Start’s essential services for children and families.

“The public comments submitted to the Federal Register, along with lawmakers' resistance to the proposed rule changes, demonstrate the public’s trust that quality Head Start works for children and families and makes our society better as a whole,” said Head Start California Executive Director Melanee Cottrill. “The current performance standards ensure that Head Start fulfills its mission of preparing children for success beyond the program. The standards are not red tape; they are the clear expectations that ensure America’s children fully benefit from Head Start. We continue to urge HHS to respond to the public’s overwhelming opposition to the proposed rule changes, withdraw this proposal, and work with the field to develop a replacement that streamlines bureaucracy while preserving program quality, safety, and integrity.”

Head Start California submitted public comment urging HHS to withdraw the current proposal and develop a replacement that:

  • Builds upon feedback from the Head Start community to right-size the Head Start performance standards.
  • Offers clear, consistent guidance and performance expectations for all Head Start programs nationwide, including compliance with the Head Start statute.
  • Retains high-quality standards related to: group sizes; teacher-to-student ratios; intensity and duration of services; staff qualifications; and other evidence-based program design elements that are driven by research on outcomes and effectiveness for at-risk young children and families.

Head Start California is a nonprofit membership association that represents Head Start grant recipients throughout the State of California. Our organization supports 134 Head Start providers who collectively serve more than 70,000 children and their families across the state.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Melanee Cottrill, Head Start California Executive Director, melanee@headstartca.org

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