Protecting Head Start’s Promise: Preserving Strong Standards and Comprehensive Support for Children and Families

September 24th, 2026

Administration for Children and Families

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

RE: Docket No. ACF-2026-0595, Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs

Dear Administration for Children and Families:

On behalf of the Powerbuilding Coalition of Ohio, we are submitting these comments in response to the proposed changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards.

The Powerbuilding Coalition brings together leaders from across Ohio who work collaboratively to strengthen policies, systems, and support for children and families. Our work serves parents, educators, early childhood professionals, and communities across the state, with a focus on ensuring that the experiences and needs of those most impacted are reflected in the decisions that affect them.

Head Start and Early Head Start play an important role in supporting children and families. In addition to early learning, Head Start provides comprehensive services that include health, mental health, nutrition, family support, and services for children with disabilities.

We recognize the importance of reducing unnecessary administrative burden and giving programs the flexibility to respond to the needs of their communities. At the same time, the proposed rule would significantly reduce federal requirements, defer to state policies in a number of areas, and provide greater discretion to local Head Start agencies. As ACF considers these changes, we ask that greater flexibility does not come at the expense of the quality, scope, or consistency of services provided to children and families.

Federal standards provide an important foundation for Head Start programs across the country. While programs should have the ability to respond to their local communities, children and families should continue to be able to count on strong standards and comprehensive services regardless of where they live.

As ACF considers the proposed changes, we ask that the agency:

• Maintain strong federal standards that support consistent, high-quality Head Start and Early Head Start programs across communities.

• Protect Head Start’s comprehensive approach to supporting children and families, including education, health, mental health, nutrition, family engagement, and services for children with disabilities.

• Maintain strong health and safety protections for children.

• Preserve meaningful opportunities for parents and families to participate in their children’s education and in Head Start programs.

• Carefully consider how greater reliance on state and local requirements could affect consistency in the services and supports available to children and families across communities.

• Ensure that efforts to reduce administrative burden do not result in a reduction in the quality, scope, or types of services provided to children and families.

• Protect access to Head Start for children and families experiencing homelessness by ensuring that eligibility verification and documentation requirements do not create unnecessary barriers to enrollment and participation.

• Consider the experiences of parents, educators, Head Start professionals, and community partners as decisions about the final standards are made.

  
  

We also ask ACF to consider how changes to the Performance Standards may affect the early childhood workforce. Head Start programs rely on qualified and supported educators and staff to provide high-quality services to children and families. Any changes to federal requirements should consider programs’ ability to recruit, retain, and support the workforce needed to provide these services.

Head Start’s comprehensive approach is central to how the program supports children and families. Children’s learning and development are connected to their health, mental health, nutrition, family well-being, and access to needed supports. We believe these areas should continue to be reflected in strong federal standards.

As ACF considers a final rule, we ask that the experiences and needs of children, families, educators, Head Start professionals, and communities remain central to these decisions.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on this proposed rule.

Sincerely,

The undersigned members of the Powerbuilding Coalition of Ohio