09/12/2026
ALERT: Protect Head Start for Children with Disabilities
Head Start was built to include children with disabilities and support families. Tell the federal government: Don’t weaken it. Do not eliminate critical standards and essential services that make Head Start so high quality and responsive to what kids and families need. Inclusive early learning like Head Start supports the healthy development and well-being of ALL young children.
You can submit public comment here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/07/2026-16134/reducing-federal-burden-for-head-start-programs
Then click “submit public comment” button. Deadline to submit comment is October 6, 2026.
From The Arc: HHS Head Start Rollback Threatens Disability Inclusion and Protections, https://bit.ly/TheArc_NoRollback
👉BACKGROUND
Children with disabilities belong in Head Start and have participated from the beginning. For generations, Head Start has helped families access early learning, developmental supports, health services, and other resources during some of the most important years of a child’s life.
We need your help to make sure children with delays and disabilities continue to be included and supported.
The science is clear: Inclusive learning is tremendously positive, for children with and without disabilities. And inclusive learning, in turn, requires training, standards, and family connection.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed significant changes. Programs would no longer be required to:
- Provide developmental assessments to every child.
- Make accommodations so children with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of the Head Start program.
- Follow the current directive that children can’t be turned away because of a disability or chronic health condition.
- Follow federal guardrails on temporary suspensions or the current prohibition on expulsion.
- Support parents as they navigate the IEP process.
The department says the changes would reduce paperwork and give local programs more flexibility. But here is the cost:
- The very requirements that help make Head Start high-quality could be gutted, like teacher qualifications, training, and support, and small group sizes and teacher-to-child ratios that support early learning and development
- Multilingual resources for children, parents, and staff could be eliminated
- We could lose services and supports for pregnant women and infants
- Family support services and opportunities for parent engagement could be lost, as well as opportunities for parent governance and leadership
Head Start predates the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by 10 years. It started something profound. Gutting it would remove many of the rules that help make sure children with disabilities are identified, supported, and included.
TALKING POINTS:
Every child deserves to belong
Belonging matters. It fuels essential social, emotional, and cognitive skills during a critical window of brain development. Children with disabilities and their families should not have to fight to be included.
All children benefit
Children in inclusive early learning settings have stronger academic and social-emotional growth. This is true for children with and without disabilities. Studies show young children with disabilities make strong gains in communication and social development. Children without disabilities also show improved communication, as well as a stronger sense of self-concept. Nurturing empathy, acceptance and belonging creates safe spaces where all children thrive and lays the foundation for academic learning and lifelong well-being.
We should not move backward.
Strong Head Start standards help make sure children with disabilities have a real opportunity to participate and learn alongside their peers.
Want to lean more about the benefits of inclusive early learning? This policy statement from earlier administrations lays out the benefits and legal basis. It was first published in 2015 and updated in 2023.https://sites.ed.gov/idea/files/policy-statement-on-inclusion-11-28-2023.pdf
The science hasn’t changed. High quality, inclusive early learning – and access to it – can change a child's life. Especially if that child has a disability or delay.
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT IS NEEDED:
Submit a public comment by clicking here https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/07/2026-16134/reducing-federal-burden-for-head-start-programs then clicking on “submit public comment.”
You can tell the federal government what you think about these proposed changes.
The deadline for comments is October 6, 2026.
Your voice matters. Don’t wait to speak up.
Submit your comment today and ask the federal government to keep strong protections for children with disabilities.
COMMENT DEADLINE: OCTOBER 6, 2026
The Arc - Washington State The Arc - Whatcom County The Arc of Snohomish County The Arc of Grays Harbor The Arc of Cowlitz County The Arc of Tri-Cities The Arc of Spokane
PEACE NW Roots of Inclusion League of Education Voters Treehouse TeamChild WSA Head Start and ECEAP Children's Alliance
Image description: young child playing with blocks. Text: Step Up for Head Start. A decade before IDEA, Head Start was there for kids with disabilities and their families. It was built to be inclusive. Now proposed changes could gut quality control -especially for kids with disabilities and delays. Your public comment is needed.
