Education Week

Advocates say the proposed changes to Head Start regulations could result in negative consequences for children with disabilities—both diagnosed and undiagnosed. Currently, Head Start must administer developmental screenings within 45 days of a child enrolling in the program. If the results indicate that a child has a developmental delay or is at risk for one, Head Start staff must connect the family with appropriate resources. The Trump administration’s proposed policy changes would eliminate this requirement. Similarly, the proposed changes would no longer require Head Start programs to reserve 10% of enrollment spots for children with disabilities or to actively seek to fill these spots from children in their respective communities. Head Start’s current standards prohibit expelling children due to their behavior. Proposed federal changes would eliminate that standard. This change would likely be disproportionately harmful to children with disabilities, either diagnosed or undiagnosed