Court: District of Washington

Overview:

The Plaintiffs–a coalition of parents and Head Start providers–challenge the administration’s recent cuts and restrictions to dismantle the Head Start program. Plaintiffs allege that by slashing staff, delaying funding, and imposing bans that block programs from fulfilling their mission to support young children from low-income families, the administration is defying Congress’s mandate to continue Head Start services nationwide. This multi-pronged attack puts at risk the quality and safe early educational, health, nutritional, and social services that Head Start programs across the country provide to 800,000+ young children and their families every year. The Arc’s declaration explains the harm that cuts to Head Start and restrictions on its programming would have on the 14% of Head Start students with disabilities.

Case Documents:

• Complaint
• Motion for Preliminary Injunction
• Declaration of Katherine Neas, The Arc, in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction

Resources:

• The Impact Fund: Parent Advocacy Groups and a Coalition of Head Start Providers File Lawsuit to Stop Trump Administration’s Dismantling of Head Start

Media

• New York Times: Trump Plan to Dismantle Head Start Is Illegal, Lawsuit Argues