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Head Start – Thursday, October 8, 2026
Illinois Stands with States on Head Start Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Earlier this summer, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking outlining significant changes to federal Head Start regulations. This week, IDEC submitted public comments in opposition of these proposed changes to federal rules. The agency warned, among other things, these changes would significantly increase burden for families, providers, and the workforce and loosen or eliminate long‑standing program standards, potentially diminishing the quality of Head Start services nationwide.
“The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) goes against years of research on high-quality programs and will have a long-lasting negative/detrimental impact for generations to come, with additional burden on families, providers and educators,” said Secretary Teresa Ramos in a recent press release by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. “The NPRM has created an overwhelming sense of fear and disappointment. Families, providers and young children across the country deserve better and I’m proud to be an Illinoian and stand with the many states pushing back against these proposed rules.”
IDEC raised objections and concerns including with these proposed changes:
Added barriers for families applying to and demonstrating eligibility for Head Start
Elimination of continuity of enrollment
Reduction of minimum hours of care
Elimination and prevention of bilingual services and supports for families
Reduced comprehensive, quality service requirements
Reduced administrative funding cap
Decreased staff qualifications, blocked development pipelines as well as the elimination of many resource positions and child to staff ratio requirement
Removal of expulsion prevention policy
Reduced clarity of program and expectations
Decreased quality early care and education options across illinois and inconsistencies for families and the workforce
Eliminated requirement for family and local voice
Increased pressure on state early care and education systems
To read the full public comment submitted by IDEC, click here: