Potential Crisis Looms for Thousands of Low-Income Families as Head Start Faces Funding Challenges
Beginning November 1, over 65,000 children could lose their access to Head Start, the federal early-learning initiative aimed at low-income families. This situation arises as federal funding to these programs is halted due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Currently, 134 local Head Start programs, alongside several others whose funding expired on October 1, are in a tough spot, deliberating on how much longer they can keep their doors open. Tommy Sheridan from the National Head Start Association explains the dilemma they face.
“They are scrambling,” Sheridan says. “There is a ton of hard work, a ton of goodwill, a ton of dedication – but hard work, goodwill and dedication don’t keep your doors open, unfortunately.”
This deadline is particularly significant for states like Florida, Georgia, Missouri, and Ohio, which are expected to feel the impact the most. Head Start programs across the nation cater to approximately 750,000 children, providing essential services like childcare, early education, free meals, health screenings, and family support.
Funding for these local programs is disbursed annually, though at varying times. Some programs receive their financial aid on October 1, others on November 1, and so forth. Sheridan notes that if the shutdown extends to December, additional programs will face the same financial predicament.
Impact on Florida’s Migrant Farm Workers
Daniel Jaime, who oversees six Head Start centers in Florida as part of the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project, anticipates that his centers will have to close on November 1 unless there is a funding extension. “It’s a pretty hard deadline,” he says. “We’re all hoping for a miracle that things change.”
Born in Florida to a farmworker family, Jaime himself attended Head Start, later enrolling his own children while working as a farmworker. Currently, with the harvest season in full swing, the potential closure poses a significant threat to the workers who rely on Head Start for childcare.
In the immediate future, Jaime fears parents might have to resort to leaving their children in less-than-ideal care settings to continue working. “That’s a big thing for me right now, is knowing that we have our babies out there, and we can’t serve them,” he says.
Strategies to Stay Afloat
Some Head Start programs are devising strategies to keep operating beyond November 1. Corey Holcomb, running a program in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, says they can continue services until November 14. “After that, if the shutdown is still going on, we would have to close,” she explains.
Since early October, Holcomb has been exploring various funding options, though taking a loan was deemed “not a viable option” by her agency. She plans to utilize reserve funds while also requesting deferments on rent and utility payments.
Programs in states providing additional state funding, like Oregon, may be better positioned to weather the storm. Suey Linzmeier, executive director of Head Start of Yamhill County in Oregon, expresses hope, noting that about 60% of their funding comes from the state. Without it, they would face closure on November 1.
Head Start marked its 60th anniversary this year. Despite past bipartisan support, the Trump administration had reportedly considered cutting the program from the budget and temporarily withheld its funding earlier this year.
Holcomb shares a poignant moment with a staff member who remarked, “If somebody in Congress could just come and spend one hour in our classroom and see the work that we’re doing and how important it is…” Her voice trails off, emphasizing, “Our children need us.”
