The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed significant changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards – the standards that help ensure children and families across the country receive high-quality, comprehensive Head Start services.
The proposed rule would fundamentally upend those standards and make it harder for Head Start programs to deliver the high-quality services children and families deserve. Specifically, the proposal would:
● Eliminate research-based standards that support educational quality, child safety and
healthy development.
● Remove evidence-based teacher-child ratio requirements that support
individualized learning and safe learning environments.
● Reduce protections and services for infants, children with disabilities and multilingual
learners.
● Limit opportunities for parents to shape their local Head Start programs.
● Make it more difficult for communities, especially rural communities, to sustain
high-quality Head Start services.
LIHEAP helps hard-working American families afford essential heating and cooling services.
LIHEAP provides various forms of assistance, including:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed significant changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards – the standards that help ensure children and families across the country receive high-quality, comprehensive Head Start services.
The proposed rule would fundamentally upend those standards and make it harder for Head Start programs to deliver the high-quality services children and families deserve. Specifically, the proposal would:
● Eliminate research-based standards that support educational quality, child safety and
healthy development.
● Remove evidence-based teacher-child ratio requirements that support
individualized learning and safe learning environments.
● Reduce protections and services for infants, children with disabilities and multilingual
learners.
● Limit opportunities for parents to shape their local Head Start programs.
● Make it more difficult for communities, especially rural communities, to sustain
high-quality Head Start services.
LIHEAP helps hard-working American families afford essential heating and cooling services.
LIHEAP provides various forms of assistance, including:
21st Century Community Learning Centers offer activities related to in-demand industry sectors or occupations that complement the academic program of participating students.
Some topics covered by the activities and programs offered by 21st CCLC are:
Out-of-school time (OST) programs keep youth safe, engaged, and supported when school is out. They improve academic success, attendance, mental health, and career readiness while giving families peace of mind.
The 32n grant program was created and designed to improve the school attendance, academic outcomes, positive behaviors, and skill acquisition of Michigan’s K–12 students. The Michigan Afterschool Partnership worked closely with Governor Whitmer’s
office and the Michigan Department of Education to establish and administer the grant program. This collaboration was made
possible by a public-private partnership between the state and philanthropy that allowed for the hiring of three out-of-school
time professionals who are housed at the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) to
manage and oversee the grant program.
CSBG helps hard-working American families achieve economic independence while ensuring taxpayer dollars are put to good use. The program invests in private-sector job creation and career training, ensuring that communities grow through free-market solutions rather than expanding government assistance.
Supporting Small Business & Workforce Development by promoting Economic Independence with:
Weatherization Improves Utility Costs & Health Outcomes! The Weatherization Assistance Program efficiently updates below-standard low-income homes, greatly improving residents’ utility costs and health outcomes.
Program Provides:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed significant changes
to the Head Start Program Performance Standards – the standards that help ensure children
and families across the country receive high-quality, comprehensive Head Start services.
Now is your opportunity to speak up.
You do not need to be a policy expert to submit a public comment. If you are a parent, educator, Head Start alum, community member, advocate or simply someone who believes in Head Start, your experience and perspective matters.
Make Your Comment Your Own
Below is a simple template to help you get started. We strongly encourage you to personalize it by adding a few sentences about why Head Start matters to you, your family or your community.
Even a short, personal comment can make a difference.
If you’re interested in using a more detailed or topic-specific comment template (such as one focused on disability, maternal health, dual-language learners, or other priority populations impacted by the NPRM), Start Early will be providing additional templates in the weeks ahead. Please reach out to Advocacy@startearly.org with questions.
Submit your comment through Regulations.gov before the public comment deadline of October 6, 2026.
Re: Modernize the Head Start Program by Reducing Requirements and Enhancing Alignment with State and Local Systems (RIN: 0970-AD30)
Dear Secretary Kennedy,
I am writing to urge the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to protect the Head Start Program Performance Standards and withdraw the proposed rule.
[ADD 2–4 SENTENCES ABOUT WHY YOU CARE.]
Not sure what to say? Consider:
● Are you or someone you know a Head Start parent, educator or alum?
● What has Head Start meant to your family or community?
● Why is access to high-quality early learning important to you?
● What do you want decision-makers to understand about the children and families Head Start serves?
For more than 60 years, Head Start has helped children and families access high-quality early learning alongside health services, developmental supports and meaningful family engagement. The Head Start Program Performance Standards help make that comprehensive approach possible. The proposed rule would fundamentally upend those standards and make it harder for Head Start programs to deliver the high-quality services children and families deserve.
Specifically, the proposal would:
● Eliminate research-based standards that support educational quality, child safety and healthy development.
● Remove evidence-based teacher-child ratio requirements that support individualized learning and safe learning environments.
● Reduce protections and services for infants, children with disabilities and multilingual learners.
● Limit opportunities for parents to shape their local Head Start programs.
● Make it more difficult for communities, especially rural communities, to sustain high-quality Head Start services.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge HHS to withdraw this proposed rule.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
Ready to make your voice heard? Submitting your comment only takes a few minutes.
1. Visit the Head Start proposed rule on Regulations.gov.
2. Click the “Comment” button on the top, left of the page.
3. Add your comment. Copy and paste your personalized comment into the comment box. You may also have the option to upload your comment as a file.
4. Complete the required information.
Follow the prompts to identify yourself and provide any required information.
5. Review and submit.
Take one last look at your comment, then click “Submit Comment.”
6. Save your confirmation.
After submitting, you’ll receive a Comment Tracking Number. Save it for your records.
A quick privacy note: Comments submitted through Regulations.gov become part of the public record. Avoid including personal or confidential information that you would not want made publicly available.
You do not need to be a policy expert to submit a public comment. If you are a parent, educator, Head Start alum, community member, advocate or simply someone who believes in Head Start, your experience and perspective matters.
Below is a simple template to help you get started. We strongly encourage you to personalize it by adding a few sentences about why Head Start matters to you, your family or your community.
Even a short, personal comment can make a difference.
If you’re interested in using a more detailed or topic-specific comment template (such as one focused on disability, maternal health, dual-language learners, or other priority populations impacted by the NPRM), Start Early will be providing additional templates in the weeks ahead. Please reach out to Advocacy@startearly.org with questions.
Submit your comment through regulations.gov before the public comment deadline of October 6, 2026.
Re: Modernize the Head Start Program by Reducing Requirements and Enhancing Alignment with State and Local Systems (RIN: 0970-AD30)
Dear Secretary Kennedy,
I am writing to urge the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to protect the Head Start Program Performance Standards and withdraw the proposed rule.
[ADD 2–4 SENTENCES ABOUT WHY YOU CARE.]
Not sure what to say? Consider:
● Are you or someone you know a Head Start parent, educator or alum?
● What has Head Start meant to your family or community?
● Why is access to high-quality early learning important to you?
● What do you want decision-makers to understand about the children and families Head Start serves?
For more than 60 years, Head Start has helped children and families access high-quality early learning alongside health services, developmental supports and meaningful family engagement. The Head Start Program Performance Standards help make that comprehensive approach possible. The proposed rule would fundamentally upend those standards and make it harder for Head Start programs to deliver the high-quality services children and families deserve.
Specifically, the proposal would:
● Eliminate research-based standards that support educational quality, child safety and healthy development.
● Remove evidence-based teacher-child ratio requirements that support individualized learning and safe learning environments.
● Reduce protections and services for infants, children with disabilities and multilingual learners.
● Limit opportunities for parents to shape their local Head Start programs.
● Make it more difficult for communities, especially rural communities, to sustain high-quality Head Start services.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge HHS to withdraw this proposed rule.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
Ready to make your voice heard? Submitting your comment only takes a few minutes.
1. Visit the Head Start proposed rule on Regulations.gov.
2. Click the “Comment” button on the top, left of the page.
3. Add your comment. Copy and paste your personalized comment into the comment box. You may also have the option to upload your comment as a file.
4. Complete the required information.
Follow the prompts to identify yourself and provide any required information.
5. Review and submit.
Take one last look at your comment, then click “Submit Comment.”
6. Save your confirmation.
After submitting, you’ll receive a Comment Tracking Number. Save it for your records.
A quick privacy note: Comments submitted through Regulations.gov become part of the public record. Avoid including personal or confidential information that you would not want made publicly available.
Hello, my name is [Your Name] and I live in [Your City, State or ZIP Code].
I’m calling to urge [Senator/Representative Name] to oppose any federal budget cuts that would hurt programs like the Community Services Block Grant, Head Start, Weatherization Assistance, and LIHEAP.
These programs are essential to low-income families in our community. Cutting them would take away critical resources from children, seniors, and working families who depend on them every day.
Please protect these programs and reject any budget that includes cuts to these lifesaving services.
Thank you for your time and your leadership.
Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I live in [Your City/ZIP Code].
I’m calling to urge [Senator/Representative Name] to oppose any federal budget cuts to essential programs like the Community Services Block Grant, Head Start, Weatherization, and LIHEAP.
These programs are vital to children, seniors, and working families in our community. Cutting them would put lives at risk.
Please protect these programs in the 2026 budget.
Thank you.
🚨 ACT NOW: Protect 21st Century from Budget Cuts!
The 2026 federal budget proposes dangerous cuts to 21st Century. The program provides children with a strong educational foundation while enabling parents to pursue employment and career growth.
These cuts would devastate our communities. We need your voice. It only takes 5 minutes.
#Protect21stCentury #Act4Community
🚨 ACT NOW: Protect Out-of-School Time (OST) from Budget Cuts!
The 2026 federal budget proposes dangerous cuts to Out-of-School Time (OST). The program provides children with a strong educational foundation while enabling parents to pursue employment and career growth.
These cuts would devastate our communities. We need your voice. It only takes 5 minutes.
#ProtectOST #Act4Community
🚨 ACT NOW: Protect CSBG from Budget Cuts!
The 2026 federal budget proposes dangerous cuts to the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). The program helps hard-working American families achieve economic independence while ensuring taxpayer dollars are put to good use.
These cuts would devastate our communities. We need your voice. It only takes 5 minutes.
#ProtectCSBG #Act4Community
🚨 ACT NOW: Protect the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) from Budget Cuts!
The 2026 federal budget proposes dangerous cuts to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and other programs that support families, children, and communities across the U.S.
These cuts would devastate our communities. We need your voice. It only takes 5 minutes.
#ProtectCSBG #Act4Community
📣 We need your voice.
Head Start has helped millions of children build a strong foundation for lifelong learning, while supporting parents, caregivers and entire communities. Now is a critical time to speak up.
Lawmakers need to hear from the people whose lives have been shaped by Head Start — not just statistics, but real stories.
If Head Start has made a difference for you or your family, please take a few minutes to share your experience.
Together, our voices can help protect and strengthen this vital program for future generations.
Share your story today: https://startearly.quorum.us/campaign/HeadStartStory/
