Dive Brief:
- A proposed rule to undo a federal Head Start regulation that requires providers to align teacher wages with public preschool teacher salaries drew public comments from many calling for more federal investment into the early childhood program.
- Those in support of removing the wage and benefit requirements said localities need flexibility to set their own salary standards. But those opposed said having mandatory competitive wages for Head Start teachers is essential for building a strong workforce and providing high-quality instruction for young children.
- The debate about how to fairly and realistically compensate early childhood teachers comes as school systems are facing K-12 teacher shortages while also striving to increase academic achievement.
Dive Insight:
The proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services seeks to roll back Head Start wage and benefit requirements approved in 2024 during the Biden administration. Under the current rule, Head Start providers are required by August 2031 to implement pay parity for Head Start teachers that correlates with public preschool teacher salaries — or about $10,000 more than they make now per year.
A 2024 Urban Institute brief found that the average salaries of Head Start preschool teachers ranged from $26,964 in Mississippi to $79,853 in the District of Columbia.
The 2024 approved rule also requires Head Start programs to provide full-time staff with health care coverage, paid leave and behavioral health services by August 2028. HHS estimates that by rescinding these measures, about 106,000 Head Start slots for children would be preserved due to cost savings.
Head Start, which turned 60 last year, serves nearly 800,000 infants, toddlers and preschool children a year from families living below the poverty line or experiencing homelessness.
Several commenters voiced support for competitive salaries and benefits for Head Start teachers, even if they had doubts about how impactful the 2024 rule would be on the workforce and Head Start system. The comment period ended June 11.
Rescinding the 2024 wage and benefits provisions will not reduce competition within the early childhood labor market, wrote the National Head Start Association, in its June 11 public comment to the Office of Head Start under HHS. NHSA is a nonprofit that represents families, providers and educators.
"Head Start programs must compete with public schools, retail employers, service industries, and other sectors that often offer higher wages and stronger benefits regardless of whether a requirement exists," NHSA said in its public comment. Additionally, Head Start programs are facing increased costs for food, transportation, facilities, utilities, insurance and other essentials, the comment said.
NHSA said what is really needed is more funding from Congress. Head Start was allocated $12.4 billion in fiscal year 2026. For FY27, the House Appropriations Committee recommends a $10 million increase over the current spending level.
"Without meaningful increases in federal investment, programs will continue to face difficult trade-offs that affect both access and quality, which runs counter to its goal of expanding the number of children able to be served," NHSA said.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, in its May 29 comments, said maintaining the 2024 wage and benefits standards is essential for building a strong early childhood workforce. "Withdrawing resources from a program with such well-documented financial benefits both to its direct recipients and to the country at large would be financially short sighted and poor public policy," AAP said.
In a June 11 letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., 71 Democratic and Independent members of Congress urged the agency to abandon the proposed regulation that would reverse the 2024 wage and benefit rule.
"At a time when we should be strengthening our support for the Head Start workforce, this proposal could lead to higher staffing shortages or turnover that undermines Head Start’s ability to fulfill its mission in the future," the letter said.
HHS will now review the comments before issuing a final rule.
Dive Awards
