As the early education sector continues to face a mounting crisis, several states are responding not with investment but with deregulation. Proposals across over a dozen states aim to lower the minimum age for child care workers, reduce training and education requirements, and increase group sizes and adult-to-child ratios.
These efforts come as significant federal disruptions already impact early learning programs. The Head Start program, a cornerstone of preschool for low-income families since the 1960s, is among the hardest hit. A federal funding freeze—initially thought to exempt Head Start—led to widespread budget confusion. The recent closure of five regional offices of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), including Seattle’s Region 10 Office, has left programs without crucial support. Region 10 served Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.
