Below is an excerpt from a public comment submitted to the Administration of Children and Families, Office of Head Start in regard to the regulation "Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access" on June 8, 2026.
I oppose the proposed rule changes because paying staff enough to cover basic living expenses is essential for maintaining a stable workforce and the high-quality Head Start programs that the research and established success are based upon. The proposed change in rules to add ‘flexibility’ in workforce removes the 2024 revision which stated that, “the wage standards in § 1302.90(e) require, by August 1, 2031, that programs: develop or update a pay scale for all staff; provide education staff with wages comparable to public preschool teachers; provide all staff a salary sufficient to cover basic costs of living; and promote wage comparability across Head Start Preschool and Early Head Start.” A basic cost of living ensures a stability of the workforce that is essential to ensure the program quality for the success of our youngest students.