Connecticut's top officials are opposing a federal proposal to reduce standards and quality protections for Head Start, the nation's anti-poverty early childhood education program.
Attorney General William Tong and Elena Trueworthy, the state's Office of Early Childhood Commissioner, are submitting written comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services opposing the proposed rule announced in August by the Trump administration.
If enacted, the proposal would reduce federal standards for teaching and learning, staffing, group size, and professional development. The changes would also eliminate suspension and expulsion protections for students, reduce the administrative cost cap from 15 percent to 5 percent, and shift federal responsibilities and costs to state and local systems.
"These proposed changes eviscerate standards for one of our nation's most successful anti-poverty programs," Tong said in a statement. "This is a cruel and callous insult to educators, parents and children everywhere and this proposal should be rescinded immediately."
Connecticut serves more than 5,600 children in Head Start programs for ages birth to 5 and their families through public schools, child care centers, family child care homes, and home visiting. Governor Ned Lamont has committed significant state investment to early childhood education, depositing $411.7 million into a newly established Early Childhood Education Endowment in June, bringing the endowment to more than $700 million.