The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has unveiled a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would eliminate bilingual instruction requirements in federal Head Start classrooms, establishing the first national English-only directive for early childhood education.
Published under the administrative title Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs, the draft regulations would dismantle longstanding performance standards requiring grant recipients to support children’s home languages. Specifically, proposed § 1301.04(a) mandates: “Except as provided in 1301.17(d), a program must conduct all education to children in English.” The only explicit exemption applies to American Indian and Alaska Native tribal programs using native languages to preserve tribal heritage.
If finalized, the rule will reverse 2016 standards designed to foster dual-language development. Currently, over one-third of Head Start enrollees are dual language learners. Federal estimates indicate that replacing non-English learning materials and retraining instructional staff to comply with the mandate will cost up to $124 million nationwide.
The proposal is being met with considerable opposition, “Home language is not a deficit to remediate; it is actually an asset to build upon,” advised Martha Hernandez, executive director of Californians Together. “Doing everything in English only would hamper early childhood education. More English exposure does not automatically equal stronger English proficiency.”
In a statement The National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) said that it “stands firmly and unequivocally opposed to the proposed changes to Head Start regulations that would require programs to conduct all education for young children in English,” and explained that, “Children can develop strong English proficiency while continuing to develop and use their home languages. A child’s home language is not a barrier to learning English—it is an asset. Home languages are deeply connected to learning, family, culture, identity, and development.”
Take Action Before October 6
Readers are encouraged to submit their comments by October 6, 2026 to Regulations.gov
Search for docket ACF-2026-0595
Select “Comment”
Comments may also be emailed to [email protected]. Include ACF-2026-0595 or RIN 0970-AD30 in the subject line.
On Sept. 14, UC Berkeley’s Center for the Study of Child Care Employment and EDvance College will host a webinar to explain the public comment process. The public comment period closes October 6, 2026
