Early identification of disabilities leads to better outcomes, but children from families with low incomes are often identified later than children from higher-income families. Head Start bridges this gap by connecting children and families to support early, with staff often the first to spot delays or concerns. Early intervention helps strengthen cognitive, motor, and language skills and can lower education costs through reduced need for special education.

Over 111,000 Head Start children have disabilities, and many more are at risk for developing disabilities. The proposed rule, Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs, would make it much harder to identify and support these children.

The proposed rule would sharply reduce how many children get identified and supported for delays and disabilities.

Key Facts

• Currently, Head Start programs are required to screen every child’s developmental milestones within 45 days of enrollment. If the screening determines that a child may have a developmental delay or disability, Head Start staff must work with the child’s family to connect them to a special education evaluation within a specified timeline. 
  • The proposed rule eliminates these requirements. Instead, it instructs programs to comply with existing federal and state law, which can result in inadequate identification given that the United States does not have an adequate system for screening young children.
    • Nationwide, only about one-third of young children (36.3 percent) are screened for developmental delays whereas all Head Start children are required to be screened. 
    • Outside of Head Start, young children from families with low incomes are less likely to receive developmental screenings than children from higher-income families.
    • Most states do not require universal developmental screening in early care and learning programs. The Child Care and Development Block Grant requires states to provide information to child care providers about developmental screening, but it does not require screening.
• In 2022-2023, Head Start provided developmental screening for children of nearly half a million families with low incomes.

The proposed rule would make it much more difficult for families of children with disabilities to find child care.

Key Facts

• Currently, Head Start programs must provide at least 10 percent of their enrollment spots to children with disabilities.
  • The proposed rule eliminates the requirement that programs actively locate and recruit these children. Instead, it requires programs to follow applicable state and federal laws regarding services to children with disabilities, which do not adequately identify and enroll children in early care and learning programs.
• The proposed rule:
  • removes Head Start program requirements to accommodate children with disabilities so that they can fully participate;
  • would no longer prohibit Head Start programs from turning children away because of a disability or chronic health condition; and
  • removes Head Start program requirements to minimize suspensions and prohibit expulsions, which disproportionately affect young children with disabilities.
• A GAO report found that parents of children with disabilities have a particularly difficult time finding early care and learning programs for their children, leading them to reduce working hours or leave the workforce, and leading children to have uneven and unpredictable education and care.

Head Start is the only no-cost early care and learning option for children with disabilities and developmental delays in many areas of the country.