"The list was submitted on Dec. 5, as part of an ongoing lawsuit filed by Head Start programs in a handful of states including Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin and Illinois against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The lawsuit argues that the Trump administration's ban on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in federal programs conflicts with Head Start's statutory mandate."
"Nationally, Head Start serves roughly 750,000 infants, toddlers and preschool-age children, providing childcare, early learning, free meals, health screenings and family support. The list came to light through the lawsuit as part of a recent declaration from the executive director of a Wisconsin-based Head Start program that has been receiving federal funding for over 50 years. The program's director, identified in the document by a pseudonym, Mary Roe, explained that she submitted a regular funding renewal request to HHS on Sept. 30."
Federal officials instructed some Head Start programs to remove nearly 200 words and phrases from funding applications under threat of denial. Examples include "accessible," "Black," "disability," "minority," "trauma" and "women." The list was submitted on Dec. 5 in a lawsuit filed by Head Start programs in several states against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The suit says a ban on diversity, equity and inclusion in federal programs conflicts with Head Start's mandate to provide linguistically and culturally appropriate services and early intervention for children with disabilities. HHS did not respond to requests for comment. Head Start serves roughly 750,000 children nationwide with childcare, meals, health screenings and family support.
Read at www.npr.org
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