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Changes Ahead for Head Start: Examining the New Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
September 8, 2026
Changes Ahead for Head Start: Examining the New Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
The 61-year old Head Start Program has been in the headlines, sparked by the August 7, 2026, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs. The proposed rule would “comprehensively rescind and replace” the Head Start Program Performance Standards. Seven guests, three of them former directors of the Office of Head Start, gave us an opportunity to consider the risks, opportunities, and big questions that the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) presents. We heard in turn from Amanda Guarino of the First Five Years Fund; Mario Cardona of EducationCounsel; Shantel Meek, Ph.D., of the Children’s Equity Project at Arizona State University; Yvette Sanchez Fuentes of Start Early (and former Director, Office of Head Start); Bernadine P. Futrell, Ph.D., of the Institute for Educational Leadership (and former Director, Office of Head Start); Eve Del Real, Ph.D., of Southwest Human Development and the Arizona Head Start Association; and Deborah Bergeron, Ph.D., of the National Head Start Association (and former Director, Office of Head Start).
What we heard from these deeply experienced leaders was not one verdict on the proposed rule, but a set of careful readings of it — and a handful of themes that came up again and again. Because the 90-minute session was packed with content and with suggested actions, we’ve linked a summary of themes and an extensive list of additional resources on this page to the left of the recording.
Based on what we heard from the different perspectives in the room, including reflections and advice from the three former Head Start directors, here are a few suggestions for following up on this webinar.
- If you can, watch or listen to the whole 90-minute session. If you’re not able to do that, please take a look at the summary and other resources.
- Explore the analyses, research, and commentary that are readily available from multiple sources, including but not limited to the organizations represented on this panel.
- Read the entire NPRM. It can be a tough read if you aren’t used to reading federal regulations, but reading the primary document is worthwhile. Every one of our panelists mentioned the importance of this. Yvette Sanchez Fuentes captured the theme by saying, “Public comments are critical….This is a proposal, and comments are very important. I really would stress and push folks to read as much as you can about the NPRM…,” including, she emphasized, the cost analysis at the end.
- Make a comment. Again, every one of our panelists stressed that this is a moment to participate in a very consequential process where your voice matters. As Deborah Bergeron said, speaking from her experience in the Office of Head Start, “They will read everything. They are required to read it. So, comment, be clear, be concise, and use the stories and the evidence that you have to make your points.”
In his opening remarks, moderator John Gomperts of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (CGLR) named our goals: You would leave this session more informed, with resources to learn even more, and with more inspiration to engage and take action. CGLR’s Michelle Hynes closed the session with Bernadine Futrell’s words: “We have to engage in this process, because Head Start is all of ours.”
Public comments close October 6, 2026, at midnight ET. Each of our panelists urged you to add your voice; we hope you will.
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