FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2026
Indiana Head Start Association Opposes Federal Proposal That Would Dismantle Head Start Program Standards
Indianapolis, IN — Following today’s release of a federal proposal to eliminate most of the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Indiana Head Start Association is speaking out against a rule that would strip away the protections that have made Head Start one of the nation’s most successful investments in young children and families.
For more than 60 years, Head Start has paired early learning with health, developmental, and family support services that prepare children for school and strengthen families. The Indiana Head Start Association is alarmed that today’s proposal from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would eliminate nearly all of the standards that have made Head Start’s comprehensive approach so effective.
The proposal would:
- Eliminate Head Start-specific classroom ratios and group size requirements, removing safeguards that keep classrooms safe and give children the individualized attention they need to learn and thrive;
- Eliminate key requirements for serving children with disabilities and multilingual learners, threatening their ability to access the services and support that help them fully participate and succeed;
- Eliminate parent governance and engagement requirements, cutting families out of decisions about the programs their own children depend on;
- Reduce the ability of Head Start programs to use federal funding for the everyday operational costs of delivering services to families, forcing local programs to cut staff, reduce services, or serve fewer children;
- Eliminate standards for educational quality, child development, child safety, and family services such as infant and maternal health, weakening protections for some of the country’s youngest and most vulnerable children;
- Put access to Head Start at risk for families in rural and underserved communities, where Head Start is often one of the only sources of high-quality early learning and family support services available
Head Start standards are not optional best practices—they are the minimum protections that ensure every child receives a high-quality education, developmental screenings, qualified teachers, and comprehensive support no matter where they live. Removing that floor creates uncertainty for families and weakens accountability for Hoosier taxpayers
“Every day, we see how Head Start changes lives. Hoosier children gain the skills they need to succeed in school, parents find trusted partners, and families connect to services that support their health and well-being. This proposal would strip away the very standards that make those outcomes possible. We urge HHS to withdraw this proposal and preserve the standards that have made Head Start work for children and families for more than 60 years.” said Rhett Cecil, Executive Director of the Indiana Head Start Association. “We support meaningful efforts to reduce unnecessary administrative burden. But reducing paperwork is very different from eliminating the quality standards that define what Head Start is. This proposal goes far beyond streamlining requirements—it fundamentally changes the promise Head Start makes to children and families.”
In Indiana, Head Start and Early Head Start serves close to 13,000 Hoosier children and families throughout the state. For many families, and especially in rural and underserved communities, Head Start is one of the few places where children can access high-quality early learning alongside health, developmental, and family support services. Decades of research show that Head Start improves school readiness, strengthens families, and creates lasting benefits for children and communities.
As Mr. Cecil noted, “Head Start is an investment in our entire state. When children receive high-quality early learning and families have access to the services they need, everyone benefits, from local schools and employers to neighborhoods and the broader Indiana economy. This proposal doesn’t just fail to strengthen what works, it tears it down. We should be investing more in Head Start, not less.”
About the Indiana Head Start Association
The Indiana Head Start Association (IHSA) provides resources and guidance for all the Indiana Head Start and Early Head Start programs through advocacy, professional development, collaborative partnerships and education opportunities. IHSA speaks loudly for Indiana’s smallest voices and our partner programs give every Hoosier child the opportunity to succeed.
About Together for Head Start
The Indiana Head Start Association is a member of Together for Head Start, a coalition of national, state, and local organizations committed to opposing this rule and protecting and strengthening Head Start, ensuring children and families continue to have access to high-quality early learning, health, and family support services. Coalition members work together to elevate the voices of families, educators, providers, and communities and advance policies that help children thrive.
Media Contact:
Rhett Cecil
Executive Director
(317) 339-7301
rcecil@indianaheadstart.org