A look at the major changes Head Start faces under Trump proposal

Key Points:

• The proposed changes to Head Start would eliminate hundreds of federal requirements, shifting decision-making power from the federal government to states, marking the biggest overhaul since the program's inception in 1965.
• The administration argues that deregulating the program will increase cost-effectiveness and allow more children to be served by loosening strict class size requirements, potentially adding 200,000 to 250,000 more children without increasing the budget.
• Critics, including educators and Head Start providers, warn that reducing federal standards and increasing class sizes could lower program quality and strain teachers, who already face challenges working with children living in poverty and trauma.
• Studies cited by opponents show that while Head Start benefits children initially, these gains tend to fade by third grade, fueling debate over the program's long-term effectiveness.
• Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose uncle helped design Head Start, supports the changes as a return to the program’s roots, but many providers fear the reforms may undermine the legacy and effectiveness of the program.