BOZEMAN, Mont. — Proposed changes to the federally funded Head Start program has families and childcare advocates in Montana weighing what the program could look like next.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the proposed rules on August 6, and officials say the changes would help Head Start return to its roots. Critics argued the proposals go too far and could leave some families out.
Bozeman parent and small business owner Jessica Dehn says she was unsure what to make of the proposal at first. Dehn runs her own childcare center, "Dino Drop-In and ABC Dino Academy" in Bozeman.
"Like, not knowing what to think. I mean, every time there's changes then you wonder if it will affect the high-quality programming, or if it is truly just reducing red tape," said Dehn.
According to the department of health and human services website, the proposal would put more focus on health, nutrition and physical exercise. It also would reduce administrative costs and increase parent involvement through steps such as parental committees.
Another major shift in how head start would operate is in changing classroom language rules from a bilingual model to English-only instruction.
Autumn Barney, community engagement coordinator at Family Promise, says developmentally appropriate learning should remain central even if the rules change.
"Parents deserve to know that the education their children are getting in kindergarten-readiness is appropriate, developmentally appropriate, and that they have oversight and input in what that looks like," said Barney.
Dehn explained that she knows the head start program well through past work and through children connected to her business.
"I worked in Head Start in Minnesota in the 90’s," said Dehn. "I’m very familiar with it. We have children at Dino that go to head start on certain days of the week and come to us maybe in the evenings or we see on other days of the week," she said.
Ravalli Head Start in Hamilton also provided NonStop Local with a written statement about the proposal. They are one of 37 different counties in Montana who have a head start program.
"We are flexible and open-minded regarding change. Regardless of the implementation of the proposed changes, we will continue to prepare the children and families to be successful and ready for the future," Michele Craig, Executive Director of Ravalli Head Start said.
Dehn says she hopes Head Start will keep delivering strong early education and life skills to children who need that support, regardless of the proposed changes.
"We’re helping to develop them in the most critical time in their life," said Dehn. "And, making sure that that education is organized, thoughtful, empathetic, enriching; so that they’re really going into kindergarten excited to learn and become the people that they’re going to be," she said.
Public comment on the proposal will remain open until October 6. A final decision on the proposal is expected shortly after that.