Head Start and Early Head Start
Our research provides an in-depth look into Head Start and Early Head Start, addressing vital questions about quality, access, and enrollment. Policy makers and advocates can use our resources to make informed decisions.
An English-Only Mandate for Head Start Will Harm Children
On August 6th, 2026, the Trump administration introduced proposed rule changes for Head Start that include a new requirement to deliver all instruction in English only. Our new brief summarizes what policy makers should know about the research examining best practices for supporting Dual Language Learners (DLLs) in preschool.
Nationally, one-third of children under the age of 5 are DLLs, and DLLs account for an even higher percentage of Head Start (36%) and Early Head Start (40%) enrollment. If Head Start mandates English-only instruction and removes other supports for bilingual learners, Head Start will become less effective with a population for which it has produced especially strong results in the past.
The race to the bottom: What replacing Head Start ratios standards with state child care minimums will mean for children in poverty
The Trump administration has unveiled plans to eliminate 80% of the standards that govern Head Start, including staff:child ratio limits. This brief compares the ratio standards of Head Start regulations as they are currently written to state child care regulations across all 50 states and DC, and asks: if Head Start programs defaulted to minimum state licensing standards, what would change? And how do ratio requirements in child care licensing compare to those of public pre-K in the same state?
The Real Cost of Rolling Back Head Start Wage Requirements
On May 12, 2026, the Office of Head Start published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to rescind the 2024 Head Start teacher wage regulations. The regulations required the creation of wage scales and progress toward pay parity by 2031, with Head Start salaries reaching public pre-K levels or 90% of kindergarten teacher pay.
The goal of the Head Start program is to improve the school readiness of children in economically disadvantaged circumstances to break the cycle of poverty. To do so, Head Start must produce robust impacts on learning and development that sustain gains in educational achievement. If adopted, this reversal is likely to further undermine, rather than improve, Head Start effectiveness and returns to taxpayers.
The States(s) of Head Start and Early Head Start: Looking at Equity
NIEER's recent report offers a comprehensive state-by-state analysis of the Head Start and Early Head Start programs, emphasizing their equity dimensions. The study delves into the programs' performances over recent years, identifying areas where they excel and where challenges persist. Crucially, it highlights variations across states and disparities tied to child race and ethnicity. As the landscape of child poverty has evolved, so too has the reach and impact of these vital programs.
Explore the report that started it all - State(s) of Head Start
NIEER's "State(s) of Head Start" report offers an in-depth state-by-state analysis of the Head Start program for the 2014-2015 year, with insights stretching back to 2006-2007. Despite its national, federally funded status, the study unveils significant state disparities in areas like access, funding, and quality. The findings accentuate the need for enhanced collaboration between Head Start and regional governmental entities to optimize early learning programs. The report ultimately advocates for a national commission to address these disparities and ensure equitable opportunities for all eligible children.
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