Latest news with #ProjectHeadStart
USA Today
17-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Oregon leaders honor nearly 60 years of Head Start amid federal funding uncertainty
Oregon leaders honor nearly 60 years of Head Start amid federal funding uncertainty Show Caption Hide Caption The Oregon Pioneer, aka Gold Man, by the numbers Learn details about the statue on the top of the Oregon State Capitol, including height, weight and gold leaf skin. Gov. Tina Kotek delivered a video message ahead of the upcoming 60th anniversary of Head Start. Head Start serves over 11,000 children and families across 32 Early Head Start centers in Oregon. Leaders are calling for continued state support as federal funding uncertainties threaten the program's future. Gov. Tina Kotek issued a proclamation on May 16 celebrating nearly 60 years of Head Start in Oregon, a program she said reflected a dedication to supporting children and families even as federal funding uncertainties have jeopardized it. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said May 14 the federal administration would preserve funding. Still, according to the National Head Start Association, nearly half of Head Start's regional offices were closed after layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined a coalition of states suing the Trump administration over its freeze on federal funding, which locked out Head Start programs from their payment management portals, according to the complaint. A judge temporarily blocked the freeze on March 6. Parents and Head Start providers have filed a separate lawsuit challenging Trump's actions against Head Start. The plaintiffs include Family Forward Oregon. "Taking this program away continues cycles of poverty and unfairly targets the children and families it was created to support," Candice Vickers, executive director of Family Forward Oregon, said in an April 28 press release. If federal funding is eliminated, an estimated 5,700 families would lose services and close to 2,000 people would lose their jobs, Charleen Strauch, president of Oregon's Association of Head Start, told lawmakers at an informational meeting on May 8. Head Start program serves thousands in Oregon Project Head Start was launched in 1965 after President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a war on poverty during his State of the Union speech. According to the Office of Head Start, the program was funded to serve more than 774,000 children and pregnant women in the U.S. from 2023 to 2024. Strauch told lawmakers more than 11,000 children and families receive services at 32 Early Head Start centers in Oregon. In Marion and Polk counties, 724 children receive services through Head Start. "We're very grateful for the support of our government partners," said Jimmy Jones, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency. "Project Head Start was based and rooted in this principle that we're going to make sure that an entire generation of children are not left behind." Jones said it's been one of the most successful anti-poverty programs in American history. He said he depended on Head Start as a parent in the '90s when he was "beyond broke." His daughter graduated from McNary High School and Oregon State University. Oregon Head Start leaders thank Gov. Tina Kotek, state for support Jones and other leaders gave a tour of the Silverton Road Head Start that serves 17 preschool children, urging continued financial support for the program from the state. The Oregon Head Start Association has asked the Oregon Legislature for more than $387 million for the program to maintain current service levels. "We are just so grateful for the consistent support our program and all Oregon Head Start programs have received for many, many years from Oregon," said Eva Pignotti, chief program officer of early learning and child care at MWVCAA. "It's a time when we're counting on you to be there for us, because the federal funding side, as you know, is fraught with concern and questions." Representatives for Kotek and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas were also present. Inside, 10 children from ages 3 to 5 showed off the houses they were building to shelter mealworms, part of their lessons around bugs and their life cycles. A ladybug enclosure and butterfly habitat were also inside the classroom. Alicia Flores, a Head Start teacher, said she's worked for the program for eight years and takes pride in helping children develop before they enter kindergarten. Speaking in Spanish, Flores said some of the students at the center could not communicate in English and would require her to translate. She said they often don't need her help by the end of the year. "When we invest early, we don't just change outcomes, we change kids' and families' lives," said Johnna Timmes, education initiatives director for Kotek. "The program's comprehensive approach, blending education, health, nutrition, and family services, has been a model of how we support children and families, not just to survive, but to thrive." Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@ on X @DianneLugo or Bluesky @
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Head Start from 1965 to today
This story was originally published on K-12 Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily K-12 Dive newsletter. In its six decades of existence, Head Start has experienced highs, such as the addition of Early Head Start in 1994, and lows, like the disruptive COVID-19 pandemic. Here are notable events from Head Start's long history of educating preschoolers from low-income families. May 18, 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson announces Project Head Start during a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden. The program launched that summer with 8 weeks of classes, serving more than 560,000 children and families across the country. The success of the summer program led to Congress approving a nine-month, school year initiative starting in the fall of 1965. The program was funded at $96.4 million. 1969 Management of Head Start moves from the Office of Economic Opportunity to the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The Migrant Head Start program is started to support farmworker families and their children. 1972 Congress amends the Economic Opportunity Act to expand Head Start program opportunities for children with disabilities. The legislation requires that at least 10% of Head Start's national enrollment include young children with disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which requires K-12 schools to serve students with disabilities, wouldn't become law until 1975. 1975 By the 10th anniversary of Head Start, the program has served 5.3 million children. During this year, about 79,000 employees are working in 9,400 centers in every state and territory. Head Start publishes its first performance standards detailing guidelines for serving children ages 3 to 5. 1982 Summer-only Head Start programs end. Head Start's total funded enrollment level reaches 395,800. 1987 Congress passes the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Head Start programs use the law's definition of homelessness to automatically enroll eligible children. 1990 Congress appropriates the largest year-over-year funding increase in Head Start history up to this year at $1.6 billion, or enough to enroll 621,078 children. 1994 Congress reauthorizes Head Start and creates the Early Head Start program to serve pregnant women, infants and toddlers. The fiscal year 1995 total Head Start budget is $3.53 billion for services to about 752,000 children. 1998 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the successor agency to HEW, issues revised standards that include Early Head Start supports and the requirement that at least one teacher in each Head Start classroom must have a child development associate credential. 2003 The Head Start National Reporting System is implemented to standardize the collection of child outcomes for early literacy, language and number skills of all 4- and 5-year-olds enrolled in Head Start. 2007 Congress reauthorizes the program through the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act, which aims to improve education staff qualifications and program monitoring. The law also increases accountability through strengthened monitoring and oversight. Funding for Head Start reaches $6.9 billion to serve 908,412 children. 2009 Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Congress appropriates an additional $2.1 billion for Head Start to serve another 61,000 children. The annual appropriation for Head Start in FY 2009 was $7.1 billion. 2015 Head Start celebrates its 50th anniversary. President Barack Obama proposes funding Head Start programs to operate on a full school day and full school year calendar. By Aug. 1, 2021, each Head Start program is required to provide at least 1,020 annual hours of planned class operations over at least eight months per year for at least 45% of Head Start center-based funded enrollment. 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic halts most in-person services, and Head Start begins offering a mix of virtual or remote child development services, along with other family supports. The programs that stayed open helped guide non-Head Start early childhood programs – such as child care centers and public preschools — on safety precautions so parents who were essential employees could stay on the job. 2024 Congress appropriates $12.3 billion for Head Start, an increase of $275 million over FY 2023. The program serves nearly 800,000 infants, toddlers and preschoolers. 2025 Massive workforce reductions at HHS led to the closing of five Office of Head Start regional offices: Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle. Those offices are to be consolidated into the five remaining offices in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City and Denver. The regional offices provide guidance on federal policy, training and technical assistance to Head Start providers. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
