On August 7, the White House released a proposed rule (NPRM) that would change the standards governing Head Start. The proposal could increase classroom sizes, lower teacher qualification standards, weaken protections and supports for children with disabilities, and add paperwork barriers for families experiencing homelessness. These are not abstract regulatory changes. They affect real children, families, and communities. In New York, Head Start and Early Head Start serve nearly 40,000 children. In many rural communities, it’s one of the few dependable early learning options there is.

Liftoff convened Patricia (Patty) Persell, NYS Head Start Collaboration Director, Dr. Marie A. Cannon, MSW, President and CEO of Community Action Organization of Western New York and Renee M. Hungerford, Executive Director/CEO/CIO of Community Action of Orleans and Genese for an important discussion.