Advocacy Today!

August 6, 2026

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced that the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) unveiled a new proposed rule, “Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs”. Find the HHS Press Statement here. Find the published NPRM in the Federal Register Here.

Following today’s release of a federal proposal to eliminate most of the Head Start Program Performance Standards, Head Start WEST is strongly opposing a rule that would dismantle many of the protections that have made Head Start one of the nation’s most effective investments in young children and families.

For more than 60 years, Head Start has combined early learning with health, developmental, nutrition, and family support services that prepare children for school and strengthen families. Head Start WEST is deeply concerned that the proposal issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would eliminate many of the standards that make this comprehensive approach effective. Link to our statement.

Dates for your consideration:

• Notice of Proposed Rule Published Officially: August 7, 2026
• Review and Comment Period Ends: October 6, 2026
  • Please submit comments on this NPRM by October 6, 2026.
• Anticipated Final Rule to be Published: December 7, 2026

What is Head Start WEST doing?

Providing timely information and resources.

Beginning Thursday and continuing throughout next week, and across the public comment period, we will share links, summaries, analyses, and resources to help programs understand the proposed rule and its potential implications.

• Federal Register: Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs
• Head Start NPRM – Program Impact and Advocacy Issues Discussion Tool
• NHSA NPRM Hub – 2026 NPRM: Head Start Program Performance Standards – NHSA
• StartEarly and Together for Head Start – A Simple Guide to Submitting a Public Comment

Promoting learning and discussion opportunities.

We will highlight webinars and information sessions hosted by NHSA and Together for Head Start. In addition, we are planning a Special Directors Exchange on August 20 featuring:

• Mattie Mendez, Community Action Partnership of Madera County, Inc,
• Ann Linehan, Consultant, former Interim Director, Office of Head Start
• Cynthia Yao, Consultant, RISE Partners, LLC.

to discuss the proposal, answer questions, and support thoughtful leadership dialogue.

Register Here

Sharing advocacy tools.

We will develop and distribute talking points and communication resources that programs can use with local media, policymakers, governing bodies, and community partners.

• Together for Head Start: Resource Page
• National Head Start Association – Take Action

Encouraging direct engagement.

We will promote opportunities for parents, staff, governing bodies, Policy Councils, and community members to participate in the public comment process and advocate for preserving the strengths of the Head Start program design.

Supporting leadership advocacy.

We will be reaching out directly to executive leaders across our network to encourage thoughtful, substantive comments on the proposed rule and to support engagement with local stakeholders throughout the public comment period.

Now is the time for you to join others in our community to PROTECT this program. See TAKE ACTION steps below.

• Call your Congressional representative and US Senators office and let them know how important Head Start is to your community. (Yes, call volume is VERY important, and they do keep a tally of the hot topics.) Key names and numbers listed below, and search links. Please call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121, which will connect you to the correct Congressional or Senate office based on your location. A staff member will pick up the phone. If a staff member does not answer, please leave a message.
• Click on NHSA’s Action Alert – Click here to send your representatives a letter. NHSA keeps these fresh so you may want to check back a couple of times in the month and send more messages.
• Learn and share information you see and hear in the news. Talk with people in your family, neighbors, church, or other settings. Look for ways to engage and advocate for the priorities of food advocates, housing advocates, and education advocates. Each topic has leading groups that you will find when using search engines.

Additional resources for your advocacy efforts

• Advocacy Toolkit: PROTECT Head Start – First Five Years Fund
• First Five Years Fund Take Action: Click here
• Save the Children: Protecting Head Start

In the Head Start WEST states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, and the Outer Pacific, and Nevada, our KEY House Members are the following – If they are your representative, it is doubly important that you act!

House Appropriations Committee

• Juan Ciscomani – AZ 6 – (202) 225-2542

• Ken Calvert – CA 41 – (202) 225-4695

• David Valadao – CA 22 – (202) 225-4695

• Pete Aguilar – CA 33 – (202) 225-3201

• Josh Harder** – CA 09 – (202) 225-4540

• Norma Torres – CA 35 – (202) 225-6161

• Ed Case – HI 01 – (202) 225-2726

• Mike Levin – CA 49 – (202) 225-3906

• Susie Lee – NV 03 – (202) 225-3252

Senate Appropriations Committee

• Brian Schatz** – HI – (202) 224-3934

(** indicates this member sits on the Appropriations Subcommittee with jurisdiction over Head Start funding)

United States Senate Look Up

United States House of Representatives Look Up

Scroll down to the bottom of the page, for more advocacy resources in Head Start WEST!

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