Key Points:
- Funding Pause: Over 130 Head Start programs may close due to the government shutdown, affecting ~65,000 children.
- Impact: Closures threaten early education, childcare, and family stability.
- Temporary Measures: Some programs seek emergency funding, but prolonged shutdown risks staff layoffs and community disruption.
Tens of thousands of children could lose access to early education and childcare services as more than 130 Head Start programs prepare for possible closure if the federal government shutdown extends beyond November 1.
According to the National Head Start Association (NHSA), around 134 programs in 41 states and Puerto Rico will see their funding halted, affecting nearly 65,000 children, which is around 10% of all Head Start students nationwide. The potential closures could impact classrooms, teachers, and families that depend on these centers for affordable childcare and educational support.
Early Education Programs at Risk
Head Start programs provide early childhood education, nutrition, and family support services to low-income children under the age of six. They are a vital part of preparing children for school while allowing parents to work or continue their education.
If operations stop, many families will lose access to preschool classrooms, healthcare screenings, and counseling services. For children, the disruption could mean missing critical learning experiences during formative years. For parents, it could mean losing affordable childcare, forcing them to choose between keeping jobs and staying home.
Tommy Sheridan, deputy director of the NHSA, said that the organization is deeply concerned about the effects of the shutdown. “The longer the shutdown runs, the more likely it is that programs will face potential closures. At the end of the day, children and families should never be put at risk,” he said.
Efforts to Keep Classrooms Open
While some programs are seeking emergency funding, many are struggling to maintain operations. Of the 1,600 Head Start programs across the U.S., those affected are contacting state leaders and private organizations to find temporary financial support.
For example, the Central Kentucky Community Action Council (CKCAC), which serves about 400 children across six counties, will lose access to an $8 million federal grant on November 1. The organization has arranged a $1 million line of credit with a local bank to stay open until November 21, but it warns that this is only a short-term solution.
“If we have to close our doors, families will face impossible choices between caring for their kids or going to work,” said Bryan Conover, CKCAC’s executive director. “There are multiple ripples of pain that ceasing operations would cause.”
Similarly, in Ohio, seven Head Start providers serving more than 3,700 children are at risk of closing once their federal funds run out. The Ohio Head Start Association said closures could leave 940 staff members without work, adding that each day of the shutdown puts more children and educators at risk of losing stability.
Impact on Child Development and Families
Experts warn that interruptions in early education can have lasting developmental consequences.
Dr. Lindsey Burghardt from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University said that a sudden loss of Head Start services can disrupt healthy brain development and affect learning outcomes.
“These programs support physical and mental development by offering nutrition, stable care, and structured learning environments,” Burghardt explained. “When you destabilize these services suddenly, you risk long-term effects on mental and physical health.”
Research by the NHSA has shown that children enrolled in Head Start programs experience better attendance in middle school, higher high school graduation rates, and greater college enrollment compared to peers without early education access.
Beyond child outcomes, the shutdown could deeply affect families. Many parents in Head Start programs work multiple jobs or attend college. Losing access to affordable childcare would make it difficult to maintain their schedules.
“Without Head Start, many parents will have no affordable child care option,” Sheridan said. “They may have to leave their jobs or reduce hours. It’s incredibly destabilizing for families who are already doing everything they can to build a better future.”
Education in Uncertain Times
For educators and administrators, the uncertainty surrounding Head Start funding adds to the challenges of supporting vulnerable students. Programs that close even temporarily may lose experienced teachers and disrupt relationships built between children, families, and staff.
As communities wait for funding to resume, early educators across the country continue to focus on one shared goal — keeping Head Start programs open and maintaining learning continuity for children who need it most.