Day 13 of the 20-Day Public Comment Challenge: Screening versus the disability enrollment requirement
Today’s Prompt:
Screening requirements would become much less specific while the law still requires that 10 percent of enrolled children have a disability. Ask ACF how a program meets that requirement without the screening steps that identify those children. Give an example if you have one.
Day 13 Prompts for the Action Alert
Staff: “I coordinate [disability / health] services at [program]. Last year we served [number] children with identified disabilities, [percent] of enrollment. [One child identified through required screening who might otherwise have been missed.]”
Parent: “My child was identified as needing [help with a developmental delay] through a screening at [program], before we would have known. [What happened next.]”
Community Partner: “As [title] at [organization], we take referrals from Head Start screenings for [service]. Fewer required screenings would mean [fewer referrals, or later ones].”
Where it says that: The 10 percent disability enrollment requirement is at Head Start Act Section 640(d). Screening requirements at 45 CFR 1302.33 would become much less specific. Wisconsin programs had more than 2,300 children with an active Individualized Education Program or Individualized Family Service Plan under IDEA last year (2025 OHS PIR State Summary, WI).
This is one of 20 daily prompts. You don’t have to wait, browse them all and submit on any prompt that fits your situation, anytime between now and October 6. See the rest on the 20-Day Comment Challenge page.
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