Trump Administration Proposes English-Only Head Start Rule
A federal proposal would eliminate bilingual support requirements for Head Start, a change program leaders say would harm dual language learners and
The Trump administration has proposed overhauling Head Start standards to require teaching only in English, a move that would eliminate long-standing federal mandates for bilingual support. The proposal is part of a broader push to shift authority from federal to local and state governments for the federally funded preschool program.
Ginger Williams, who runs six Head Start sites in Snohomish County, Washington, says the current bilingual approach helps children feel comfortable and makes teachers' jobs easier. "When a child comes in understanding what’s going on, it’s not so frightening to them," Williams said. Under the new proposal, programs would lose the requirement to have staff who speak the home language of a majority of children, a regulation in place since the 1970s. Only programs operated by Indian tribes furthering "tribal heritage" would be automatically exempt, with others needing to apply for a waiver.
Shift to Local Control
The proposed standards aim to remove many federal requirements for Head Start, which is housed within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Programs could base staff-to-child ratios on state policies and choose when to screen children for developmental disabilities. Alex Adams, assistant secretary for family support at HHS, said the change addresses the fact that "one-size-fits-all mandates from Washington cannot fully account for the realities facing 1,600 grantees." Federal money flows to these 1,600 organizations, which oversee 14,000 individual programs nationwide.
Opposition from Program Leaders
Head Start leaders argue the English-only mandate contradicts the program's core mission of school readiness and would set back bilingual learners. Cleo Rodriguez, executive director of the National Ag Families Head Start Association, said, "We want children to become fluent in both languages because we know that that’s going to set them up for success." The federal Head Start website itself currently touts the benefits of bilingualism for brain development, school performance, and job opportunities.
The administration's proposal states that eliminating the bilingual requirement would "redirect resources towards English-language education and assimilation." HHS estimates the change would also incur one-time costs of nearly $47 million to replace classroom materials and between $26 million to $78 million for professional development.
Impact on Dual Language Learners
Roughly a third of Head Start programs serve primarily dual language learners. Nationally, about 35 percent of children in Head Start are dual language learners, a figure slightly higher than the national average for kids ages 0-5. In some regions, like the one including New York and Puerto Rico, the percentage exceeds 60 percent.
Eder Campos, a Head Start volunteer in western Washington, started working in a classroom because he could communicate with children in Spanish. He saw his own daughter struggle in an English-only classroom last year. "It was difficult for her to socialize because she didn’t speak English very well, and that was a barrier," Campos said through an interpreter. He fears that without bilingual support, children will have a harder time integrating and advancing to kindergarten.
José Martinez, president of UMOS, which runs 140 Migrant and Seasonal Head Start classrooms, said simultaneous translation is key for young students learning English. Removing that practice, he added, "is going to have a profound impact on the early language learning of our children."
Unclear Practical Effects
Experts say the practical implications of the rule change remain unclear. During a call with the National Head Start Association, educators asked if they would have to discard bilingual books and posters or if they could use home languages during lunch and naptime. Leaders on the call said they did not know.
In Washington state, where a third of young children are dual language learners, Williams worries an English-only policy will hinder learning. Teachers currently explain complex topics in a child's home language, allowing the child to focus only on learning the English word for the concept. "They’re going to miss out on all of those concept learnings if we just go full English," she said. The public can submit comments on the proposed rule until October 6.
