特朗普政府正计划对Head Start项目进行大规模改革，该项目是为贫困儿童提供的联邦资助学前教育计划[1]。政府提议消除该项目超过100页的监管规定，改由州和地方托儿所许可要求取而代之[1]。卫生部助理部长Alex J. Adams表示，这一改变旨在加强地方决策权，并可能节省超过20亿美元[1]。
Head Start目前对教师配置有严格要求，例如密西西比州的规定规定一名教师只能教4名2岁幼儿，而州法规允许一名成人监管12名[1]。除消除既有规定外，政府的提案还包含两项新要求：将行政费用上限从15%降至5%，以及由肯尼迪倡导的新营养条款[1]。
教育专家对此举表示关注，警告放宽规定可能会削弱Head Start作为早期教育黄金标准的地位[1]。该项目目前服务约70万名全国最弱势儿童，包括无家可归者、寄养儿童和残障儿童[1]。肯尼迪援引研究数据称，Head Start毕业生与执法部门的接触更少，学业表现更好，工作机会更多[1]。公众有60天的时间对这项提议的规则进行评议[1]。
The Trump administration is moving forward with a comprehensive overhaul of Head Start, the federal preschool program serving low-income children, by proposing to eliminate more than 100 pages of regulatory requirements.[1] Currently, the program operates under strict guidelines including low teacher-to-student ratios and research-backed curricula requirements.[1] The administration's plan would shift oversight primarily to state and local child care licensing standards instead.[1]
Alex J. Adams, assistant secretary for health, characterized the proposal as a step toward empowering local decision-making while generating anticipated savings exceeding $2 billion.[1] The revised rules would impose two new requirements: capping administrative expenses at 5 percent of funding, down from 15 percent, and implementing new nutrition provisions championed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.[1] To illustrate the regulatory gap, Mississippi currently allows one adult to supervise 12 two-year-olds under state law, whereas Head Start limits a single teacher to four children in that age group.[1]
The program currently serves approximately 700,000 of the nation's most vulnerable children, including those experiencing homelessness, those in foster care, and children with disabilities.[1] Education experts have cautioned that loosening regulations could undermine Head Start's standing as a gold standard in early childhood education.[1] Kennedy has pointed to research suggesting Head Start graduates have fewer interactions with law enforcement, stronger academic performance, and better employment prospects.[1] The public will have 60 days to submit comments on the proposed rules.[1]