Proposed Changes to Head Start Performance Standards and What They Mean for Illinois Children and Families

On August 7, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new proposed rule that, if finalized, could make significant changes to Head Start programs.

While HHS states that these changes are intended to increase flexibility for Head Start providers, we at Illinois Action for Children (IAFC) are concerned that the proposed rule would remove or weaken the standards that help Head Start programs provide safe, high-quality early learning and comprehensive services.

While these changes are only proposals, if finalized, the rule could:

• • Weaken standards for education, safety, health, mental health, dental care, and developmental screenings.
  • Replace Head Start’s teacher-child ratios and group-size limits with state standards that may be less protective.
  • Limit support for multilingual children and families.
  • Reduce services for pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children with disabilities.
  • Cut administrative funding that programs need to operate effectively.
  • Weaken parent leadership, family engagement, and community governance.
  • Widen divides in rural and frontier communities where high-quality care is already difficult to access.

IAFC stands in solidarity with state and national partners in opposition to the proposed changes.

We believe children and families deserve expanded access to Head Start without sacrificing quality, safety, equity, or family voice.

We encourage you to submit a public comment by October 6, 2026, and contact your members of Congress. Urge them to oppose these changes and call on the federal administration to withdraw the proposed rule. Find guidance on how to submit a comment below.

Join us to protect Head Start and to protect children, families, and communities.

Please send media inquiries to media@actforchildren.org

How to Submit Your Comment

Ready to make your voice heard? Submitting your comment only takes a few minutes. Refer to this guidance on how to submit a comment, and follow the steps below:

• Visit the Head Start proposed rule. 
• Click the blue “Comment” button on the top left of the page. (Refer to these tips for writing an effective comment.)
• 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.
• Complete the required information. Follow the prompts to identify yourself and provide any required information.
• Review and submit. Take one last look at your comment, then click “Submit Comment.”
• 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.