Congressman James Gallagher joined Congressman Mike Thompson in calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to reconsider proposed changes to Head Start programs that local providers warn could reduce access to critical early childhood services for families across Northern California.
In a bipartisan letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the California lawmakers raised concerns about the proposed Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs rule, which would eliminate or reduce several federal standards governing classroom staffing and services for children with disabilities.
“Head Start is a lifeline for a lot of working families in rural Northern California,” said Gallagher. “When I hear from local providers that these changes could mean fewer teachers in classrooms or children missing out on early developmental support, I take that seriously. We should absolutely be looking for ways to cut unnecessary bureaucracy, but that shouldn’t come at the expense of the kids and families these programs are meant to serve.”
Gallagher and Thompson pointed to concerns raised by E Center, which serves families across eight Northern California counties, and North Coast Opportunities, which provides Head Start services in Lake and Mendocino counties and surrounding communities.
Both organizations warned that eliminating federal standards for staff-to-child ratios and classroom sizes could result in larger classrooms with fewer teachers. The lawmakers also raised concerns that reducing health and developmental screening requirements could delay identifying children who need additional support.
These concerns are especially significant in communities recovering from devastating wildfires. Families in Butte and Lake counties continue to face housing instability and displacement, making reliable access to Head Start services particularly important.
“We are deeply grateful for the strong bipartisan leadership of Representatives Thompson and Gallagher,” said Melanee Cottrell, Executive Director of Head Start California. “Their advocacy is critical to protect comprehensive, high-quality Head Start programs – one of America’s most successful investments in young children and families.”
The letter also raises concerns about reducing the administrative spending cap from 15 percent to 5 percent, which local providers warn could force reductions in services across rural communities.
Gallagher and Thompson urged HHS to withdraw or modify the proposed rule and work directly with Head Start providers to identify improvements that preserve the services children and families depend on.
