Maine’s youngest children need Head Start. A proposed federal rule puts it at risk. | Opinion

Deirdre Burns Mondor, MD, MPH, is a primary care pediatrician in York County.

The first few years of a child’s life shape much of what comes after. By the time a child starts kindergarten, the brain has already done a remarkable amount of growing, and the experiences and relationships of those early years help set the course for learning, behavior and health for years to come.

As a pediatrician, I see the difference a strong start makes, and I see how hard it can be to catch up without one.

Last year, Head Start marked its 60th anniversary. In that time, it has transformed the lives of more than 40 million children nationally. It has lasted because it is more than a classroom. Along with early learning, Head Start connects children and families to healthcare, developmental screening, nutrition and support for parents. Research shows that, by age 2, children in Early Head Start show stronger cognitive, language and social-emotional skills than their peers who aren’t in the program.

Here, Head Start is a federal-state-local partnership investing in Maine’s children, families and workforce. It prepares children for school success, supports working families and brings federal dollars into Maine communities. Maine also puts in its own money to support program expansion, and that investment strengthens Head Start’s ability to reach more children.

For a pediatrician, one part of that work especially stands out: supporting children with delayed milestones or disabilities. Head Start is a key partner in the early identification of special needs and ensures children with developmental needs receive support as early as possible.

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Last year, 217 preschoolers and 46 infants and toddlers in Maine Head Start were newly identified as eligible for special education or early intervention services. A delay caught at age 2 instead of age 5 can mean years of help that change the course of a child’s schooling.

A proposed federal rule would pull in the other direction.

The Department of Health and Human Services has proposed stripping away many of the standards at the heart of Head Start. It would drop the requirement to screen every child within weeks of enrolling, and the requirement to make sure a problem, once found, is followed up and treated. It would also end the requirement to check, within 90 days, whether each child has a regular doctor and dentist.

Each of these standards matters. Together, they are what make Head Start work. The harm of this proposal is cumulative. Weakening several parts of the program at once means children are less likely to get the support they need, and the families facing the most barriers will feel it first.

We could expect a delay in children receiving appropriate medical care to address issues that directly affect academic performance and behavior in the classroom (e.g., hearing deficits, sleep apnea, asthma, to name a few).

Not only does early intervention improve the confidence and performance of children in the classroom, but identifying deficits and providing services prior to kindergarten is proven to save costs for our schools and communities in the long-run.

After 60 years, Head Start remains one of the best examples we have of an early investment that pays off for children, families and communities. I urge Sen. Collins, Sen. King, Rep. Pingree and Rep. Golden to ask HHS to rescind this proposed rule and protect the standards that give Maine’s youngest children a strong start.

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