Xavier Becerra United States Secretary of Health and Human Services | Official Website
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), announced a new final rule aimed at strengthening Head Start’s capacity to recruit and retain qualified staff, enhance teacher wages and benefits, and ensure consistent quality programming for children and families. The rule, titled Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming, will increase most Head Start teachers' annual wages by approximately $10,000.
"For decades Head Start has offered the gold standard in early childhood education to children, putting them on the path to success in school and beyond. However, for too long, the Head Start program has relied on staff who are often paid poverty-level wages for their important work," said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. "This rule will raise wages for thousands of teachers and staff and help ensure that our most vulnerable children have access to this essential educational opportunity."
"Higher compensation and better benefits for the early childhood workforce ensures quality early education and allows programs to recruit and retain effective early educators. This finalized rule will advance excellence in the services staff provide to the children and families we serve," stated ACF Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Hild.
The rule aims to sustain the Head Start program while maintaining current service levels. The Administration plans to collaborate with Congress to secure robust funding necessary for ongoing program improvements.
"Over and over again, I hear from Head Start programs that have closed classrooms because they cannot find qualified staff," noted Katie Hamm, ACF Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development. "This rule will reverse this trend by increasing wages, reducing turnover, and improving quality. After nearly 60 years of Head Start, it’s past time to affirm that fair wages are an essential component of high-quality early childhood education."
Key changes mandated by the new rule include:
- Aligning wages with preschool teachers in public school settings
- Enhancing benefits such as health insurance, paid leave, and wellness supports
- Providing flexibility on wage requirements for small agencies
- Integrating mental health supports across services
- Improving child health and safety in facilities
- Enhancing family engagement services
- Modernizing processes to meet community needs
The updated regulations also emphasize bolstering mental health support for both staff and families involved in Head Start programs.
"We have listened to comments submitted by the Head Start community and other experts to ensure this rule truly reflects the needs of the children and staff it is intended to serve," said ACF Office of Head Start Director Khari Garvin. "In response, the final rule offers greater flexibility, provides tailored implementation by small programs, reduces administrative burden while still meeting our collective goal of supporting staff and increasing program quality."
Head Start delivers services across core areas including early learning, health care, family well-being while engaging parents as partners throughout their children's development stages from birth up until age five. Programs operate nationwide including Tribal nations as well as U.S territories like Puerto Rico through 1,600 agencies customizing federal initiatives according local family needs.
