PRFAA Clarifies Scope of Federal Head Start Proposal and Highlights Mechanisms to Protect Services in Puerto Rico

Washington, D.C. – September 10, 2026 – The Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) today clarified the scope of the proposed rulemaking published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) regarding the Head Start program, emphasizing that it is a proposal and not a final federal rule.

The proposal, published on August 7, 2026, as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), opens a formal public comment period through October 6, 2026. The document proposes revising and replacing the current Head Start Program Performance Standards with the goal of reducing regulatory and administrative burdens, increasing program flexibility, and providing greater authority to states and territories, communities, and families.

According to the most recent data, Puerto Rico received $320,335,109 in Head Start funding during fiscal year 2025. These resources support 25,671 funded enrollment slots, including 18,488 Head Start preschool slots and 7,183 Early Head Start slots, as well as 10,149 employees and 701 centers throughout Puerto Rico.

Federal funds are administered through the program’s various grantees in Puerto Rico, including the Administration for the Comprehensive Development of Children (ACUDEN), municipalities, and nonprofit organizations, which deliver these services directly to children and families in communities throughout the Island.

It Is a Proposal, Not a Final Rule

PRFAA emphasized that the document published by ACF is a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) through which the federal government is proposing potential regulatory changes and opening a formal process to receive public comments.

Therefore, the proposal is not a final rule and does not represent an immediate change to the conditions under which Head Start programs currently operate in Puerto Rico.

The process provides the Government of Puerto Rico, program grantees, and other stakeholders with an opportunity to evaluate the proposed provisions, submit comments, and raise considerations specific to Puerto Rico before any final regulation is adopted.

Proposal Seeks to Reduce Administrative Burdens and Prioritize Direct Services

Among the proposed changes is a reduction in the limit applicable to certain administrative expenses, from 15% to 5% of the program’s total approved cost. ACF states that the proposed change is intended to reduce administrative burdens and direct a greater share of resources toward the direct delivery of services to children and families.

Likewise, the NPRM proposes that education provided to children through the Head Start program be conducted in English and that, when a child’s primary language is not English and the child does not speak English, the program prioritize English-language instruction. Governor Jenniffer González Colón has made expanding opportunities to strengthen proficiency in both Spanish and English in public education a priority, as part of her commitment to improving education and ensuring that every child in Puerto Rico has more tools and opportunities for the future.

Flexibility Under the Proposed Requirements

The proposal includes a mechanism through which Head Start program grantees could request waivers from certain requirements under the proposed regulations, subject to review and approval by HHS. This mechanism would be available, among other provisions, for the proposed administrative spending limit and the English-language instruction requirement.

In the NPRM, ACF also specifically requests public comments on the proposed waiver process, including the circumstances under which a program grantee could request a waiver from the proposed administrative spending limit or the English-language instruction requirement.

“The most important thing at this point is to understand the process correctly. We are dealing with a proposed regulation subject to public comment—not a final rule or an order to eliminate Head Start services in Puerto Rico. Our Island receives more than $320 million in funding for these programs, supporting more than 25,000 enrollment slots for our children and more than 10,000 workers. Over the past several weeks, the administration of Governor González Colón has been actively evaluating the proposed changes and their potential impact on Puerto Rico, to ensure that federal resources continue reaching the families and communities that rely on these services,” said Gabriella Boffelli, Executive Director of PRFAA.

Boffelli added that the Administration will evaluate each proposed provision, including the flexibility and waiver mechanisms, with the goal of identifying alternatives that can reduce bureaucratic burdens and strengthen English-language instruction without adversely affecting the continuity of services provided to children and families.

“Throughout her career in public service, Governor Jenniffer González-Colón has remained committed to the Head Start program and the services it provides to thousands of children and families across Puerto Rico. This is a proposal and public comment process, and we will continue working with the federal government and advocating for the needs of our Island to be considered before any final decision is made. We also encourage all interested stakeholders to submit their comments to ACF no later than October 6,” Boffelli concluded.

Organizations, entities, and individuals interested in submitting comments may do so through www.regulations.gov by searching for docket ACF-2026-0595 (RIN 0970-AD30). Comments may also be submitted by email to Deregulation@acf.hhs.gov, including docket number ACF-2026-0595 and/or RIN 0970-AD30 in the subject line. The deadline for submitting comments is October 6, 2026.

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