On August 7, 2026, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Head Start, a formal announcement published in the Federal Register when a federal agency intends to add to, remove from, or otherwise change policy through a rule or regulation. The proposal, Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs (RIN 0970-AD30), would replace the current Head Start Program Performance Standards with a significantly shorter set of federal regulations, touching nearly every part of the program, from health and safety to staffing, eligibility, and governance.
Public comment closes October 6, 2026
This proposed rule is open for a 60-day public comment period, which closes at midnight on October 6, 2026. During that time, anyone, including parents, providers, and advocacy organizations, can submit formal comments through regulations.gov responding to the proposal.
- Submit a comment: regulations.gov comment form (Docket ACF-2026-0595)
- Read the FAQ: 2026 Head Start NPRM Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
About the FAQ
First Five Years Fund (FFYF) compiled answers to common questions from providers, parents, and advocates about what the proposal would mean for Head Start programs and the children and families they serve, including what would change, what would stay the same, and what the Head Start Act still requires. The answers reflect FFYF’s own interpretation of the proposed rule and are not official guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or ACF.
Read the proposed rule here: Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs (Federal Register)
