On March 23, 2024, President Biden signed into law provisions giving Head Start programs additional flexibility to serve children in Tribal communities and children of farmworkers. Both of these new provisions ensure Head Start programs can more effectively serve the families for whom they were designed. First, Tribally run Head Start programs will be able to prioritize enrolling children from the Tribe, or who live with Tribal members, regardless of family income. This change will allow Tribal Head Start Programs—which are a precious source of child care and Native language preservation in hundreds of Native communities—to grow to meet the existing demand in their communities without losing federal funding eligibility. In addition, any child who has at least one family member primarily engaged in agricultural employment is now eligible for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start.

“The Biden-Harris Administration fought for these important changes alongside many Tribal Nations, agricultural community members, and program administrators,” said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “We are grateful to these leaders for raising this important issue and working with us to see it become law. We will work closely with our Tribal partners and with community organizations supporting farmworkers and their families to implement these important changes.”

The change to Tribal Head Start requirements is designed to strengthen the nation-to-nation relationship between the federal government and Tribal Nations and ensure that Tribes have flexibility and decision-making power to determine how they deliver services in their communities. This aligns with the Executive Order on Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination, signed by President Biden on December 6, 2023.

The Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program serves children of farmworker families. The program is designed around the unique needs of families that change geographic locations for agricultural work or engage in seasonal agricultural labor. Its design includes elements vital to farmworkers with young children, such as months of service scheduled around harvest seasons, longer operating hours and weeks to accommodate families working in the fields, and dual language services.

“These policy changes will better target Head Start services to children in Tribal communities and children of farmworkers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, performing the delegable duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Jeff Hild. “ACF is committed to ensuring that children of Tribal Nations, Native communities and migrant and seasonal workers, including farmworkers, obtain the early education and comprehensive services offered in Head Start.”

“This flexibility in Tribal Head Start will increase the number of children in Tribal communities that engage in Native language and culture during their formative years,” said Khari Garvin, Director of the Office of Head Start. “Moreover, this change to Migrant and Seasonal Head Start will ensure that the program can focus on its mission of serving children of farmworkers and providing them with a safe and healthy learning environment.”

The Administration for Native Americans Commissioner Patrice Kunesh added, “As a parent whose children attended Head Start programs, I know how important it is to families and communities that children are cared for and educated in a positive and encouraging learning environment where culture, language, and traditions are respected.”

The new policies are effective immediately. ACF will issue policy guidance for programs to support swift implementation.

Find out more about Head Start eligibility on the ACF website at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs.