On October 6, AACF submitted public comments urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to withdraw its proposed rule that would erase roughly 90% of the current Head Start Program Performance Standards. Over 400,000 comments were submitted!
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 current Head Start Program Performance Standards help make that comprehensive approach possible. The proposed rule would fundamentally change those standards and make it harder for Head Start programs to deliver the high-quality services children and families deserve.
Not only is Head Start an essential service in our early care and education (ECE) mixed delivery system, but the current standards also put maternal health supports in place, which are especially important for Arkansas moms. That’s where we focused our comments. We believe now is the time to expand support and services for moms, not cut them.
You can read our public comments here.
Next, HHS will review comments to determine what changes they will make, and we hope they consider the overwhelming support for Head Start and withdraw the proposed rule in its entirety. Arkansas moms and kids are counting on it.
