The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a controversial policy change regarding the federal Head Start program, which supports school readiness for children from birth to age 5.
This new policy, revealed on July 10, would bar undocumented immigrant children from enrolling in Head Start, which provides essential services such as free childcare, nutrition assistance, health screenings, and resources for pregnant women.
This move aims to rescind a 1998 interpretation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), which allowed certain undocumented children to access services within the program.
Under previous guidelines, these services were not categorized as “federal public benefits,” but rather as part of an educational initiative to promote school readiness.
With these changes expected to take effect after publication in the Federal Register on August 13, the federal government will require verification of citizenship or immigration status for enrollment in Head Start programs.
Previously, children who were legal permanent residents, granted asylum, or held humanitarian parole could also access these services.
President Donald Trump’s administration has previously aimed to impose stricter requirements for immigrant access to government services, and this policy reflects those broader changes.
In light of the announcement, the American Civil Liberties Union has initiated legal action against the administration, while advocates for children and families have condemned the new regulations.
This ruling is expected to significantly impact the number of children eligible for the Head Start program, which funded 42,997 program seats in New York State for the fiscal year 2024.
A total of 3,807 local homeless families in New York received Head Start services during this period, but it remains unclear how many of these families might be excluded if the new immigration verification requirement is enforced.
Representatives from both New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) and the Office of Children and Family Services for New York State (OCFS) acknowledged they do not track or inquire about students’ immigration status.
“As we review this change, we will continue to monitor the situation,” a City Hall spokesperson stated.
In an email, an OCFS spokesperson indicated that the agency was assessing the potential impact of the guidance issued by HHS.
The HHS final regulatory impact analysis estimates that approximately 115,000 Head Start children and families could be affected nationwide, equating to around 16 percent of last fiscal year’s enrollees.
Several advocates have expressed concern regarding the implications of this change, particularly for families experiencing homelessness, who may struggle to provide the requisite documentation.
Tommy Sheridan, Deputy Director of the National Head Start Association (NHSA), pointed out that this requirement could create barriers not only for enrollment but also hinder relationships between families and service providers.
“We need to be mindful of the challenges that exist when documentation is requested during the verification process,” he said.
Nora Moran, the director of policy and advocacy at United Neighborhood Houses, highlighted that the program has never required documentation related to immigration status before now.
Although they recognize that families with varying immigration statuses enroll in Head Start, precise numbers of potentially affected children remain unknown.
Previously, the providers’ focus was to identify individuals within the eligible income, housing, and other criteria.
The program has traditionally been viewed as an early education initiative rather than a public benefit that would exclude noncitizens, according to Moran.
“United Neighborhood Houses strongly condemns the federal administration’s latest attempt to undermine our communities,” stated Executive Director Susan Stamler.
She emphasized that excluding immigrant children from Head Start or education programs is both inhumane and senseless.
The implications of this policy change could resonate throughout communities that rely on Head Start services, impacting a significant number of families across New York State and potentially leading to reduced support for homeless children and others in vulnerable situations.
As the public comment period continues for the proposed rule, advocates are monitoring its potential repercussions closely, voicing their opposition to a plan they fear could dismantle critical support systems for the most needy families.
With millions budgeted for Head Start in the fiscal year set to serve nearly 719,000 children and pregnant women nationwide, the fallout from this policy may affect not just enrollment figures but the very fabric of community support systems designed to help families succeed.
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