Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman, also a mayoral candidate, has criticized a proposed federal rule from the Trump administration. This rule would require all education in Head Start programs nationwide to be conducted in English. Raman opposes this proposal, noting it would impact multilingual instruction and affect communities like Los Angeles, where many children speak a language other than English at home.
Raman stated that as mayor, she would resist the administration’s plan to change the program, which plays a crucial role in providing a strong start for children in Los Angeles. She expressed her commitment to using the mayor’s office to fight the mandate and collaborate with local school districts on potential legal actions if necessary.
Corey DeAngelis from The Heritage Foundation responded by emphasizing existing issues with the Head Start program. He suggested that recent evaluations indicate the program doesn’t significantly improve long-term educational outcomes for students, considering the high cost borne by taxpayers.
The Trump administration’s proposal, announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), requires Head Start programs to educate children exclusively in English. This includes prioritizing English instruction for children who do not speak English at home. However, certain American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start programs using tribal languages would be exempt from this rule.
Defending the proposal, DeAngelis argued that teaching English is essential for better preparing children for English-language classrooms in American schools. He highlighted that English proficiency is critical for educational success.
HHS explained that the proposed change aims to prepare children for school, in line with Trump’s executive order designating English as the official language of the United States. An HHS spokesperson noted the significance of a strong English foundation for school readiness.
Roxanne Hoge, Chairwoman of the Los Angeles County Republican Party, supported the proposal. She stressed the government’s interest in ensuring Head Start children, who benefit from taxpayer funding, become proficient in English. Hoge remarked that despite various language options in Los Angeles schools, English remains a fundamental skill for communication in the U.S.
The proposed rule differs from current Head Start policies, which endorse both English acquisition and support for children’s home languages. Federal data indicates that the language change could affect about one-third of non-Tribal Head Start classrooms. In California, nearly 68,126 federally funded enrollment slots are available across Head Start programs, serving tens of thousands of dual-language learners.
Fox News Digital reached out to Raman, the White House, and HHS for comments but did not receive immediate responses.