Head Start has been a resounding success. Don't cut it.

federal Head start The program has been a lifesaver for me since I was a child. I count my lucky stars that decades ago my parents were able to get me into Head Start for early childhood education. I now feel even more fortunate to have it for my own child.

But I worry that could all change if the Trump administration gets its way.

Study showed that Head Start children have better social skills and emotion regulation. They make great progress in math, language, cognitive development and how to learn.

Their health and dental outcomes are also significantly better than low-income children who do not have access to the program. And children in Early Head Start are more likely to have access to immunizations and services for children with disabilities.

The positive effects of these interventions last for decades.

There are significantly more children receiving Head Start well Education, employment, health, and even parenting outcomes compared to other disadvantaged children who did not attend Head Start programs. They are more likely to finish high school and go on to college and are significantly less likely to become teenage parents or be involved in the criminal justice system.

Head Start isn’t just for Pre-K. It also provides anti-poverty wraparound Services, such as access to employment, food and housing assistance, and pediatric health care. Parents whose children are learning and growing at Head Start can participate in the workplace without worrying about unaffordable childcare.

The result? A win-win for parents, kids and taxpayers. Research shows that for every $1 invested in Head Start, the economy receives a return of $7 to $16. The program serves 750,000 families

Head Start has a 60-year history of providing critical support to poor and low-income children and their families. But it remains deep underfundedHence only a fraction of eligible households can access it. When I try to enroll my daughter in our county and have to travel to another county with more available slots I am waitlisted.

Once we were accepted into the program, I had an early childhood educator who even came to our home to work with my daughter and me. He was a lifesaver for me as a single parent. I can’t express how much it helped to have someone to talk to about my child’s development.

This intern educator also told me about an open, volunteer policy position in the county’s Head Start office. I applied and got the post. From there, I quickly became chairman of the elected policy council and then a community representative for the Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency, which coordinates our early Head Start programs in our area.

By any measure, the Head Start program is a stunning success for children, families and communities.

But unfortunately, the Trump administration says it wants to eliminated Head start. Government Shutdown in Fall 2025, Admin off At least 12 states have cut Head Start benefits, delayed and stopped funding, and eliminated critical workers. Although some workers have been rehired, the damage is long-lasting.

Have a head start six decades Bipartisan support and ample evidence of both short- and long-term returns. The administration’s efforts to circumvent programs, cut staff and add red tape have created deep structural threats. There are advocacy groups and the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that its attacks on the program violate a congressional mandate to fund Head Start.

President Trump Federal budget Next year’s flat-fund Head Start proposal, though it was hit in 2025 and needs increased. That’s basically a cut.

This program is so important to the social, health, and economic well-being of families, communities, and the nation that we must stop the threats and fully fund the program instead. My daughter and I are living proof of its success.

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Previously published with otherwords.org Creative Commons License

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