* Sun-Times…

Illinois Head Start Association, along with several other Head Start associations from across the country, filed a lawsuit against the federal government late Monday over its plans to eliminate the early childhood development programs nationwide.

The suit alleges the executive branch has disregarded congressional budget extensions, which had allocated funding to the programs through September, as well as the Head Start Act, which has required the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to allocate at least as much funding for Head Start programs as the year before.

It also cites improved economic and health outcomes for children and families who participate in the program and warns of the damage if programs close amid the uncertainty of funding.

“[The federal government’s] actions disrupt — and are designed to disrupt — the ability of Head Start agencies to provide quality service to children and parents,” the suit reads. “They are part and parcel of Defendants’ unlawful policy of winding down the Head Start program without Congressional approval.”

* From the lawsuit…

On March 14, 2025 the Administration for Children and Families within HHS issued a letter implementing the President’s ban on “DEI.” The letter threatened funding consequences for agencies that “promote” or “take part” in any “diversity, equity, annd inclusion initiatives.” […]

Illinois HSA members received conflicting responses when they requested guidance about how to comply with the March 14 DEI Ban. Some members were told that their program Specialists could not discuss it. Some members were advised to delete words like “diversity,” “equity,” “inclusion,” and “accessibility” from their renewal applications but to otherwise leave the substance of the programs the same. And other members were instructed to remove entire sections of their applications-such as anti-bias training, and a program goal aimed at addressing marginalization of underrepresented groups in the workplace — and resubmit them. […]

[A] Program Specialist instructed an Illinois agency to remove “non-English speaker” as a selection criteria for participants, yet ensuring access to such participants is how the program complies with its obligation to “welcome children from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds” and to offer “limited English proficient children” “culturally and linguistically appropriate instructional services.”

* LA Times…

The lawsuit, filed in the Western District of Washington, also alleged that the administration’s directive to strip the program of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts is “unconstitutionally vague,” violates the free speech of its teachers and does not provide enough guidance for providers to know what must be done to avoid losing federal funding. […]

Head Start, which has provided child care, health screenings and meals to millions of low-income children since its founding in 1965, has faced multiple disruptions since the start of President Trump’s term. Centers faced funding delays after an executive order temporarily froze federal aid in January, causing some providers to struggle to meet payroll and others to shutter temporarily. Then, scores of federal Head Start workers were laid off in February, followed by the closure of five of 12 regional offices in April, including the Region 9 office, which oversees California.

Most recently, a leaked draft of the budget proposal for the Department of Health and Human Services revealed the department’s proposal to totally defund Head Start by 2026. The budget proposal must be approved by Congress.

“We know what this administration’s goal is — they’ve told us,” said ACLU Women’s Rights Project attorney Jennesa Calvo-Friedman, who is lead counsel in the case. “It’s to terminate the Head Start program. We are seeing them already take steps to do that.”

* Back to the lawsuit…

In Illinois, roughly 28,000 children are currently enrolled in Head Start. Of those, 14.3 percent are children with disabilities; 3.8 percent are children in foster care; and 7.9 percent are children experiencing homelessness. Nearly two-thirds are children of color, with 41 percent identifying as Black and 36 percent identifying as Hispanic. They live in communities ranging from Chicago, the third largest city in the country, to rural farming areas. To meet these widely and richly diverse needs, Illinois HSA members offer an equally wide array of services, including initiatives focusing on school-readiness for Black boys (which has recently been discontinued); English language learning and job placement resources for immigrant parents; on-site health clinics and food pantries; and regular staff training to reduce bias and improve equitable access to all Head Start services. […] Illinois Head Start agencies employ over 8,700 residents.

* Related…

* WBEZ | With Head Start preschool on Trump’s chopping block, parents warn of impact on kids: According to the AP, the draft says: “The budget does not fund Head Start” which is consistent with the Trump administration’s “goals of returning control of education to the states and increasing parental control. The federal government should not be in the business of mandating curriculum, locations and performance standards for any form of education.”

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Illinois Head Start providers worry about the future as Trump eyes potential cuts: Blythe and other Head Start providers in Illinois are concerned about the future of the 60- year-old federal program that serves children from birth to 5. Almost $500 million flowed from the federal government directly to Illinois Head Start providers during fiscal year 2024, according to the Illinois Head Start Association.

* RiverBender | Riverbend Head Start Joins Illinois Campaign to Save Funding: Riverbend Head Start & Family Services (RHSFS) is teaming up with the Illinois Head Start Association (IHSA) in their #SaveHeadStart advocacy campaign. Head Start locations throughout the state will take part in the “For the People, By the People” photo series, which willhighlight the people and programs that keep Head Start running in our communities. The series will roll out in the coming weeks on social media and the web. The #SaveHeadStart series and other advocacy efforts are in response to an April 16th article in the Washington Post indicating that the White House’s 2026 budget proposal would eliminate funding for Head Start altogether.