Dive Brief:

• The Obama administration has put forward a proposal to lengthen the hours and school year of the federally-funded preschool program Head Start, but the idea has drawn pushback from some providers.
• The program’s update is long overdue, but some providers say the changes would force them to cut the number of students due to a lack of instructors or space.
• The concerns were aired during a public comment period that has drawn hundreds of responses to the proposed rule changes.

Dive Insight:

The success of the proposed rules is dependent, at least in part, on the Congressional budget process. The rules can mandate expanded hours, but without added funds, services will likely be available to fewer students as a result.

And not everyone thinks a longer day for young students is a boon, despite some studies showing academic benefits. Other shifts under consideration would cut back on parent engagement requirements and eliminate offerings that provide home-based care.

The Obama administration has made expanded preschool access a key objective in recent years, including backing grants for states to develop preschool programs. Several states have begun to create universal, state-funded preschool programs, though each state has taken a slightly different approach. By and large, the programs have proved popular and demand has grown, but they have not been free of controversy.