The Trump administration has unveiled a sweeping proposal to reshape Head Start, the federal early-childhood education program that serves hundreds of thousands of low-income children nationwide.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the changes are intended to expand parental choice, reduce federal requirements and give local providers more flexibility in how they deliver services.

The proposal comes as federal data show many states rely heavily on Head Start funding and enrollment slots to provide preschool and child-development services. According to the Office of Head Start, the program was funded to serve 715,873 children and pregnant women nationwide in fiscal year 2024, supported by more than $11.7 billion in operational funding.

The administration argues that the proposed overhaul would increase access to services and allow families more flexibility in choosing how children receive care and education. Critics, however, are likely to scrutinize how any changes could affect states and communities that depend heavily on federal Head Start funding.

“The Biden Administration oversaw the largest decline in Head Start slots in American history. Today’s action reverses that decline,” ACF Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams said in a press release. “Head Start’s greatest strength is the people who make the program work, and we seek to empower them to work directly with parents to best meet the needs of their local communities.”

Why It Matters

The proposal could have an outsized impact in states with large Head Start footprints, particularly those that receive hundreds of millions of dollars annually in federal support. In fiscal year 2024, California received nearly $1.5 billion in combined Head Start and Early Head Start funding, while Texas received more than $827 million and New York received more than $826 million when applicable program categories are included.

As the administration moves forward with the proposal, debate is likely to focus on whether greater flexibility can expand access without reducing services in communities that rely on Head Start as a key component of their early-childhood education system.

What is the Head Start Program?

Head Start was created in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty. The program provides early education, child development, health and nutrition services, and family support resources to children from low-income households from birth through age 5. It also includes Early Head Start services for infants, toddlers and pregnant women.

The program operates through grants awarded by the federal government to local public agencies, school systems, nonprofit organizations, tribal governments and other providers. While the federal government funds the program, services are delivered at the local level through thousands of providers and centers across the country.

Head Start is particularly important in communities with high poverty rates because it provides comprehensive services beyond classroom instruction, including health screenings, disability services, family support and connections to housing and other assistance programs.

How Many Children Use Head Start?

The Office of Head Start says the program was funded to serve 715,873 children and pregnant women during fiscal year 2024. Nationwide, funded enrollment included approximately 669,800 standard Head Start and Early Head Start slots, 21,572 American Indian and Alaska Native program slots, and 24,460 Migrant and Seasonal Head Start slots.

Federal records show that enrollment is spread across every state, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Among the largest state programs:

• Texas received funding for more than 61,000 Head Start and Early Head Start slots.
• California received funding for more than 68,000 slots, including tribal programs.
• New York received funding for more than 50,000 slots.
• Florida received funding for more than 37,000 slots.
• Ohio received funding for more than 27,000 slots.

The Office of Head Start notes that funded enrollment reflects the number of slots supported by federal funding at any one time and is different from cumulative enrollment, which measures the actual number of children served during a year. Because children may enter and leave programs throughout the year, cumulative enrollment can be higher than funded enrollment.

List of Changes to the Program

According to HHS, the proposed reforms are designed to expand access and increase parental control over early-childhood education decisions. The administration says the proposal would reduce certain federal requirements and increase flexibility for local providers.

Key elements highlighted by HHS include:

• Expanding options available to families seeking early-childhood education services.
• Giving local providers more flexibility in how programs operate.
• Reducing administrative and compliance burdens placed on Head Start providers.
• Shifting decision-making authority closer to parents and local communities.
• Revising program requirements that the administration argues have limited access or increased costs.

The proposal is subject to the federal rulemaking process, including a public-comment period, before any final changes are implemented.

How to Apply

Families do not apply through a national federal portal. Instead, applications are submitted through local Head Start providers that receive federal grants. Eligibility generally focuses on low-income families, though children experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, and some other groups may also qualify.

Parents can find nearby providers through the Head Start program's service-location system, which includes centers across all 50 states and U.S. territories. The database allows families to search by state, ZIP code or community to identify local programs and enrollment opportunities.

What Happens Next

The HHS proposal is open for public comment for 60 days, after which the department may implement the plan as-is or with modifications based on feedback.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Gray R. Thomas