Wisconsin Head Start Association (WHSA)

08/15/2026

WHSA Executive Director Jennie Mauer is warning that the proposed federal rule could hit rural Wisconsin especially hard. The changes would roll back requirements for staffing ratios, teacher qualifications, and family support services - and Mauer says losing Head Start in rural communities, where it's often the only licensed child care option, would be devastating.

Mauer also raised concerns about a new requirement for all instruction to be in English, noting it could be impractical for classrooms in Western Wisconsin where many young children speak Spanish as their first language.

More than 12,000 Wisconsin families with children ages 3–5 rely on Head Start. Mauer is encouraging community members to submit public comments during the 60-day comment period.

Read the full article: https://www.wxpr.org/education/2026-08-10/wisconsin-head-start-leaders-federal-rule-will-pummel-rural-communities

08/14/2026

"Head Start staff made me realize I was a better parent than I gave myself credit for. There are truly loving, generous teachers out there, I wish my kids could stay forever."
- A Western Dairyland Head Start Parent

Head Start doesn't just support kids, it invests in parents, too.

In 2025, over 6,000 Wisconsin families participated in a research-based parenting curriculum through Head Start, giving parents tools, confidence, and support in their own role, not just their child's.

Because when parents grow, kids do too. That's one of the things that makes Head Start so special.

08/13/2026

WHSA Executive Director Jennie Mauer is speaking out about the proposed federal changes to Head Start, calling the rule a dramatic overhaul of the regulations that guide how programs operate. Mauer and other Head Start leaders warn the changes could grow class sizes and worsen classroom ratios, potentially affecting teaching quality across the state's programs that serve over 12,000 children.

Mauer noted that families should not expect any changes to their Head Start provider as the new school year begins in the coming weeks.

Read the full article here: https://www.wmtv15news.com/2026/08/06/wisconsin-head-start-association-voices-concerns-after-hhs-proposes-changes/

08/12/2026

TOMORROW: Make your voice heard for Head Start

Head Start has served over 40 million children over the past 60 years, providing critical child care and comprehensive services to families across the nation.

A newly proposed federal rule would roll back many of the standards that keep Head Start programs safe, high-quality, and accessible. If enacted, these changes could:

❌ Reduce child care access
❌ Increase classroom sizes
❌ Lower protections for children with disabilities
❌ Diminish teacher qualification standards

Tomorrow, Thursday, August 13, join a national call-in day to ask your Member of Congress to call on the Department of Health and Human Services to stop these proposed rule changes.

To call, visit: https://actionnetwork.org/call_campaigns/tell-congress-to-stop-rfks-attack-on-head-start/?source=headstarttoolkit
Or text HEADSTART to 855-714-1332

It takes less than five minutes to make a call that matters.

08/12/2026

Children can't wait.

A new national survey of Head Start grantees found that federal approval delays and reductions in regional support capacity are affecting transportation, facility improvements, enrollment decisions, staffing, and other services that children and families rely on every day.

The findings represent responses from 157 Head Start grantees in 33 states.

Read the Wisconsin Head Start Association media statement and explore the full survey findings at the link below: https://whsaonline.org/2026/08/head-start-federal-approval-delays-survey/

This survey was conducted by Together for Head Start and the Washington State Association of Head Start & ECEAP (WSA), with support from Head Start leaders across the country, including Wisconsin.

08/12/2026

Many of you have worked with toddlers. What do you think your experience would be like if you had 12 toddlers for every 1 adult?

What would that look like in a classroom? How would it affect your ability to keep children safe, respond to their complex needs, support learning, and build relationships?

We want to hear from the people who know this work best. What do you think?

Let's talk about what's actually in the proposed Head Start rule change.

The proposal wouldn't just trim red tape. It would eliminate the federal staff-to-child ratio requirement entirely, replacing it with whatever each state's basic childcare licensing allows. State licensing standards vary widely; in some states, one adult can be responsible for 11 or 12 toddlers at once. Head Start's current standard is one adult for every four.

That's not a paperwork difference. That's the difference between a child getting individualized attention during a critical stage of brain development and a classroom that's harder to keep safe.

We support paying early childhood staff a living wage — full stop. But that's a funding conversation, not a ratio conversation. Weakening safety standards doesn't fund better pay; it just makes classrooms less safe while the underlying funding problem goes unaddressed.

08/11/2026

⏰ Reminder: Polls close at 8 PM tonight! If you haven't voted in today's Wisconsin partisan primary, now's the time. Find your polling place at myvote.wi.gov.

08/11/2026

The federal government has proposed major changes to Head Start standards, and parents/caregivers can weigh in during a 60-day public comment period. Nothing is changing yet, but your voice now can help shape what happens next.

Join Start Early, Together for Head Start, Washington State Parent Ambassadors, and MomsRising for a free webinar for Head Start parents and caregivers:

🗓️ Wednesday, August 12 | 12:00 PM CT
Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FAFlK1vHS8-n5LylQO2akw #/registration

You'll learn how to:
• Understand the proposed changes and what they could mean for your program
• Submit an effective public comment (templates provided)
• Share your Head Start story in a way that gets heard

Spanish interpretation available live.

Your voice matters, let's make sure it's heard.

08/10/2026

Reminder: Tomorrow, August 11, is Wisconsin's partisan primary election. As advocates for young children and families, we know how important it is for our community's voices to be heard on the issues that shape our future. Polls are open 7 AM–8 PM, and Wisconsin has same-day registration if you're not yet registered. Find your polling place at myvote.wi.gov. See you at the polls!

08/09/2026

A new report from The Nation digs into just how much Head Start's classroom quality standards would change under the newly proposed rule, including eliminating class size limits and staff-to-child ratios entirely, in favor of state rules that are weaker for the vast majority of Head Start-age children nationwide, according to an Arizona State University analysis.

WHSA Executive Director Jennie Mauer said: "It feels really disingenuous. Programs are going to have to reallocate resources to care for more kids. Things aren't adding up here."

👉 Read the full article: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/head-start-deregulation-trump/