Head Start is a nationwide preschool program designed to prepare three and four year olds for public kindergarten. The program also offers some services for infants and expectant mothers under Early Head Start. In 2025, Puerto Rico’s Head Start program received $320.3 million. This funded services for 25,671 children’s at 701 centers across the Island. It also paid for 10,149 employees. Some changes are proposed for next year.
Health and Human Services changes
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposes several major changes for the national program. One major area is that fewer federal standards would be used and more leeway and responsibility would go to the state or territory governments. Currently, federal rules determine the number of children in each class, the health screenings kids receive, the ongoing professional training for staff, and many more aspects of the program. These items would be up to the state or territory if the changes are made.
Another rule change that would affect Puerto Rico strongly is a requirement that all education be conducted in English. It would also no longer be a requirement to have fluent speakers of Spanish in the classrooms, as it is now. This would not be an issue in Puerto Rico. However, an English-only approach could be challenging for students and teachers alike. In fact, since one third of Head Start students speak another language than English at home, it’s expected to be challenging and expensive across the nation. Educators generally oppose this change, since research shows that dual-language instruction in early education leads to better outcomes.
Administrative requirements would be lessened and the funding for administration would likewise be reduced. A 30-minute physical exercise period would be required for every 3.5 hours kids are at the facility. These and a variety of other changes are expected to reduce the cost of the program, saving the federal government money. Presumably, that would mean that the amount of finding provided to Puerto Rico as well as the states would be reduced. However, apart from the administrative expenses cap, the proposal does not specify changes in funding.
Apart from the English-only requirement, these changes support the administration’s general goal of returning details of education to the control of the states and territories.
Early Head Start grant
At the same time, Rep. Pablo Hernandez has announced that the HHS is providing a grant of $1,180,584 for the Early Head Start program. The announcement does not indicate whether it is new money, a continuation award, a replacement award, or money offset by reductions elsewhere.
The overall effects of the proposed changes are uncertain. They are still open to public comment and have not been made law. The rules would be the same for Puerto Rico as for the states, though. The effects, particularly when it comes to the English-only requirement, may be different.
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