Proposed Head Start Changes Could Threaten Childcare Access for Georgia Families

The federal government is proposing a major overhaul of Head Start, the early childhood program serving low-income families and children experiencing homelessness, in foster care or with disabilities.

The proposal would eliminate or revise roughly 1,400 federal requirements and give states and local Head Start programs considerably more control over how their programs operate. Federal officials say the changes would reduce administrative costs, expand access and allow programs to focus more resources on children.

What Could Change?

Some of Head Start's current federal standards cover class sizes, staff-to-child ratios, health and developmental screenings, family engagement, services for children with disabilities and classroom requirements.

Many of those detailed federal requirements would be removed or loosened, with programs relying more heavily on state and local standards. The proposal would also emphasize English instruction, nutrition and physical activity while significantly reducing federal administrative requirements.

The administration estimates the changes could save Head Start programs more than $2.2 billion and potentially allow programs to serve more children.

Why Georgia Leaders Are Concerned

Georgia has a lot at stake.

More than 20,000 infants, toddlers and preschoolers attend Head Start across approximately 350 locations in Georgia, which collectively employ more than 6,000 people.

Georgia early childhood advocates aren't arguing that paperwork shouldn't be reduced. Their concern is what disappears along with it.

Kristin Bernhard, CEO of the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, says Georgia leaders want to ensure that reducing paperwork doesn't also reduce accountability or protections tied to children's outcomes.

That distinction will be important as the proposal moves forward.

Head Start isn't only preschool. The program also connects families with health screenings, developmental services and other support. Changing the federal standards could determine how consistently those services are provided from one community to another.

Nothing Changes Yet

These changes are proposed, not final.

Families currently enrolled in Head Start do not need to do anything differently because of this announcement. The proposal must go through the federal rulemaking and public-comment process before changes can take effect.

For Georgia families, the question now is whether giving local programs more flexibility can expand access without weakening the standards designed to protect the children Head Start was created to serve.

Sources: CBS News Atlanta, Georgia Recorder, Federal Regulatory Agenda — Modernizing the Head Start Program