Overview
- HHS published the proposal in August and the 60-day public comment period closed on Oct. 6 with more than 33,000 submissions from providers, families and state officials.
- The rule would let programs set class sizes and staff-to-child ratios under state or local law, cut the cap on administrative spending from 15 percent to 5 percent (reducing money for management and wraparound services), require instruction in English except for some tribal programs, and remove certain mandated screenings and reserved slots for children with disabilities.
- HHS and its assistant secretary for planning and evaluation say the 2016 Obama-era standards raised per-child costs and reduced slots without measurable classroom gains and that the new rule could save $1.5 billion to $3 billion a year and fund tens of thousands of additional Head Start and Early Head Start slots by 2031.
- A large coalition of more than 150 House and Senate Democrats led by Sen. Bernie Sanders, 25 state attorneys general, governors and local Head Start directors have urged HHS to withdraw or revise the rule, arguing it may violate the Head Start Act and would force cuts to transportation, screenings, special-education access and staff.
- HHS has defended the deregulatory goals but has not set a final-rule date and legal or legislative challenges are expected if the agency finalizes changes that many local programs say would immediately threaten services and center operations.