I spent 15 years in Head Start classrooms. Cutting the program is a mistake.
Research shows that the federal Head Start early childhood education program boosts graduation rates and strengthens families — so why is it being dismantled?
Once again, Head Start — a program beloved by millions of families and with overwhelming public support — is being threatened by the Trump administration.
I was a Head Start teacher, administrator, and coach for nearly 15 years, and can attest to the transformative power of the program. I saw children thrive thanks to Head Start’s visionary emphasis on the whole child by providing a high-quality education, welcoming classrooms, healthy nutrition, and dental and health screenings. Through home visiting, regular parent communication, and frequent parent participation in the classroom, I saw families become stronger and more resilient.
Research has shown, time and again, that Head Start increases high school, college, and postsecondary graduation rates, leads to higher self-esteem for participants, and has a positive effect on future generations, as examined through parents’ practices exhibited decades later.
Which is why I am astounded by the methodical steps to dismantle a program that is the gold standard when it comes to early childhood programs. Back in 2023, the Heritage Foundation made exaggerated claims of fraud and abuse in its call to eliminate Head Start in the now-infamous Project 2025 plan for the second Trump administration.
A year later, word leaked that President Donald Trump was planning to use the biased Heritage Foundation report to zero out federal funding for Head Start. Widespread public outcry and political pressure thwarted that plan.
Undeterred, the Heritage Foundation developed a new strategy to kill off Head Start through death by a thousand cuts: If Head Start can’t be eliminated outright, deregulate it until it’s a skeleton of itself. Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services is proposing changes to Head Start that will do just that.
In May, Health and Human Services put out a proposal to retract wage increases for Head Start teachers. This move would exacerbate the already significant challenges in recruiting and retaining the standard high-caliber staff, resulting in fewer slots and lower enrollment.
Recently, Health and Human Services announced another proposed change to Head Start that would lower staff qualifications while raising the teacher-student ratios. The latest proposal would also eliminate some of the structures that keep lines of communication open between parents and providers, like parent-teacher conferences. And a new English-only mandate in instruction, written materials, and family communications would isolate parents and children who are dual-language learners.
Physical and dental health screenings and follow-up care — instrumental in the identification of vision problems, developmental delays, missed vaccines, and hearing challenges for many low-income children — are also on the chopping block.
These proposed changes are just a few examples of how Head Start would be hamstrung from providing the care and education that has transformed so many children’s lives. Even Health and Human Services’ own Administration for Children and Families admits that these proposed changes could “introduce some risk.”
Once again, people-power can successfully defend Head Start. Contact Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick and your representative and tell them to pressure the Trump administration to withdraw these proposed changes.
Members of the public — like you — are able to voice your opinion, life experiences, academic research, or general passion for Head Start in response to the proposed changes. You can submit public comments on the Health and Human Services website — comments Health and Human Services must read and report on before finalizing anything.
When President Lyndon B. Johnson established Project Head Start in 1965, he said, “I believe that this is one of the most constructive, and one of the most sensible, and also one of the most exciting programs that this Nation has ever undertaken.” That sentiment continues today.
Head Start sets up society as we know it for success. We must defend against this tactic of death by a thousand cuts and make sure future generations are able to reap the rewards of this tried-and-true program.
Zaina Cahill is the early childhood education policy director at Children First.