Posts by Sheila Hansen

The Trump administration has proposed rolling back vital Head Start quality and safety standards, taking another step toward the Project 2025 goal of eliminating the program. The proposed changes would reduce requirements related to mental-health services, supports for pregnant women and families following childbirth, and evidence-based standards that help keep children safe, healthy and engaged. These proposed rule changes would move the program’s focus toward administrative compliance and away from the mission that has guided the program for more than 60 years: providing comprehensive, high-quality early childhood education and family support to children and families facing the greatest barriers to opportunity. 

Play is often seen as simple fun, but in preschool and kindergarten, it is one of the most powerful tools for learning and development. Through play, children explore the world around them, build relationships and develop essential cognitive, social, and emotional skills that form the foundation for lifelong learning. 

Play-based legislation is working its way through the legislative process but has stalled in the Senate. The bill unanimously passed the Iowa House of Representatives on March 2. It also unanimously passed a Senate Subcommittee and full committee — only to be placed on the debate calendar and then suddenly pulled from debate this week.

Across the U.S., families and child care providers are facing a perfect storm of rising costs, staffing shortages and political turbulence — and Iowa is no exception. Here's an update.