SPOKANE, Wash. — Parents enrolled in Spokane’s Head Start program are preparing for significant changes that could reshape early childhood education in the region.
Around 700 children and their families enroll in Head Start in Spokane each year. The income-based program provides families with affordable child care while giving children opportunities to learn, play, and receive medical and dental care—services increasingly difficult to find in the region.
The Trump administration’s proposed modifications to the federal Head Start program are expected to be finalized next month. The federal government says the changes will decrease administrative costs, but providers warn the proposal will alter student-to-teacher ratios and restrict eligibility for enrollment.
Taylor Hattenburg, a Head Start parent, credited the program with enabling her to return to work and pursue education. “My kids have been going to head start since they were 8 weeks old,” Hattenburg said. “That gave me the ability to go back to work full-time. Now I’m also in school full-time. My kids have been thriving in Head Start.”
Parents fear the modifications will result in larger class sizes, particularly affecting children who require additional support. Lisa Blashill, a Head Start parent, emphasized the importance of current staffing levels.
“The class size now allows the teacher to fully connect with each child, to fully be aware of each child and their needs,” Blashill said. “When you add more kids in, that teacher has to spread themselves that much further.”
Lisa Blashill’s daughter, Emmaline, has Williams Syndrome and depends on Head Start’s specialized services. “Emmaline would fall farther and farther behind without the early interventions, without the specialized teaching, without the health and nutrition services,” Blashill said.
Parents also worry the federal proposal would lower standards for training Head Start teachers. Nicci Gooch, another Head Start parent, raised concerns about hiring practices and safety protocols.
“I think we’re also forgetting just the level of care,” Gooch said. “At general child care facilities, what procedures go into hiring safe and healthy people to be in those spaces?”
Spokane College runs 11 Head Start programs in the Spokane area and expects the federal proposal would weaken mandates for support services and staff. The Washington Head Start Association reports that the proposal could eliminate approximately 300 jobs at Head Start programs in Eastern Washington.
Bobbi Woodral, district director of Head Start at Spokane College, emphasized the importance of current oversight. “Right now, we screen every child to make sure they’re developing as appropriate, make sure they’re getting to the doctors, they’re getting to the dentist,” Woodral said. “Those positions would be cut in these performance standards proposals. That means we wouldn’t have the oversight.”
Spokane College is encouraging community members to submit public comments on the Head Start and Human Services proposal. The deadline for public comments is October 6th.
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