URGENT UPDATE: The ongoing government shutdown is causing a dramatic surge in closures of Head Start preschools, leaving thousands of families scrambling for child care. As of November 1, 140 Head Start programs have reported missing critical federal grant payments, affecting over 65,000 preschoolers across the nation.
Parents of children enrolled in these programs are facing an immediate crisis. Many are now forced to consider bringing their children to work in the fields or searching for alternative child care options that may not exist. Sarah Sloan, an administrator for Head Start centers in Scioto County, Ohio, emphasized the emotional toll on families: “Children love school, and the fact that they can’t go is breaking their hearts.”
Among the closures are 24 Migrant and Seasonal Head Start centers across five states, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, and Oklahoma, which serve over 1,100 children. Javier Gonzalez, CEO of the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project, confirmed that these centers will remain shut until the government reopens, leaving approximately 900 staff members furloughed.
The impact of the shutdown extends beyond child care; many families relying on Head Start also depend on food assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The threat of funding cuts to SNAP has heightened anxieties for these families, who are already struggling to put food on the table. “A day without child care means a day without work for many parents — and a day without pay,” noted Deborah Mann, executive director of the Emmanuel Family and Child Development Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
While some Head Start centers are managing to stay open temporarily with local emergency funding, they are running out of resources quickly. “If the government doesn’t open back up, we will be providing less services each week,” warned Rekah Strong, who oversees several centers in southern Washington state.
The closures are particularly devastating for low-income households, who rely on the comprehensive services provided by Head Start, including medical screenings, school meals, and family support. Many centers have already begun to cut services. Strong added, “It feels more bleak every day.”
In Tallahassee, Florida, some Head Start centers temporarily closed on October 27 but reopened the next day thanks to a grant from the Children’s Services Council of Leon County. “It takes a village to raise a child, and our village has come together,” said Nina Self, interim CEO of Capital Area Community Action Agency. However, rural areas like Jefferson and Franklin counties have not been as fortunate, with centers remaining closed since late October.
As the shutdown continues, the fate of Head Start programs hangs in the balance. Parents and children are left in limbo, facing the harsh realities of inadequate child care and food insecurity. The situation demands urgent attention as communities rally to support families in need.
Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
