A Call to Action: Head Start’s Invaluable Legacy

Paducah Head Start is one of at least two Kentucky programs that renew their federal Head Start grant annually on May 1. Paducah Head Start recently received their Notice of Award, and Kristy Lewis, Paducah Head Start Executive Director, gave a sigh of relief. Ever the professional, Kristy tried to stay positive but admitted she was feeling uneasy about not hearing anything until the very last minute regarding the funding that allows 261 three- and four-year-olds to continue receiving services after May 1.

The Washington Post and USA Today recently reported that the White House’s 2026 budget plans to eliminate funding for the 60-year-old Head Start federal program. Head Start has provided comprehensive early care and education, health, nutrition, and wrap-around family supports to 39 million children from the most economically challenged families across the nation.

While the defunding of Head Start had not been officially confirmed, these reports are causing grave concern among Head Start communities, program leaders, and lawmakers

for the over 731,000 children and families in more than 3,300 local Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) programs across every U.S. state and territory.

In Kentucky alone, Head Start programs served 15,771 children in 2024, including more than 12,000 children ages 3-5 in HS and 3,485 infants and toddlers in EHS. Head Start is especially vital in our state because:

• 1 in 15 children under age 6 is experiencing homelessness
• 47% of households with children face a high housing cost burden
• 1 in 6 children aged 2-5 has a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder
• 42% of children ages 0-4 are confirmed victims of maltreatment
• 6.2 is the infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births
• 14% of pregnant women receive inadequate prenatal care

Kentucky’s Head Start programs are a beacon of light:

• 30% of homeless HS families in Kentucky acquired housing in 2024
• 57% of families served are single-parent households, enabling parents to work or pursue education
• 75% of HS children with chronic conditions are receiving medical treatment
• 99% of children identified with special needs are receiving services
• 55% of teachers, home visitors, and family child care providers received assistance from a mental health consultant
• 93% of pregnant moms in EHS have continuous health care
• 54% received mental health interventions
• 13% of families received mental health services
• 98% of families served have health insurance
• 94% have a medical home, and 91% have a dental home

“As a parent of a Head Start alum, the impact this program had on my child’s development—socially, linguistically, and educationally—is unmatched. The time spent with my child learning new skills, encouraging learning through play, supporting emotional and speech development, and the amount of communication I received helped ensure he was school-ready. Head Start also prepared me for the rest of his educational journey, including special education. I am beyond grateful for our experience as a Head Start family,” Kim Withrow, Paducah Head Start Parent.

“We love Head Start because it gives children the fundamentals to start learning early. It also provides financial relief for parents since daycare is so expensive and difficult to access. Head Start is a safe place for our children. We appreciate everything they do!,” Destiny West, Paducah Head Start Parent.

These positive outcomes in Kentucky mirror Head Start’s proven track record across the nation. Decades of research show that children and families who participate in HS and EHS experience both short- and long-term benefits. Head Start children make measurable cognitive and social progress and are more likely to enter kindergarten ready to learn. Head Start is also a multi-generational strategy—adults who participated in Head Start are more likely to graduate from high school and are better equipped to be successful parents themselves. Parents of Head Start children are also more likely to advance their own education.

“Being a Head Start alum, former and current parent, and now staff member, I can say that Head Start focuses not only on the child but the family as a whole to help everyone succeed in early years and beyond! Head Start helped me grow in my professional career in early childhood education—from instructional assistant to teacher, home visitor, family advocate, and now site supervisor!,” Celestrial Amos, Paducah Head Start.

Without access to Head Start, thousands of Kentucky children would enter kindergarten lacking the critical skills needed to thrive. The early years lay the foundation for learning, yet many low-income children would miss out on essential opportunities to build language, literacy, socio-emotional, and cognitive skills. Vulnerable populations—including children in foster care, children with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness—would be at greatest risk without the support of Head Start. Parents also lose a vital support system, making it more difficult to maintain employment or pursue education, both of which affect a child’s long-term stability and development.

“If Head Start were not here, 230 to 270 children would be without adequate care,” said Kristy Lewis, Paducah Head Start Executive Director. “That also means their parents couldn’t get a job because they wouldn’t have anyone to care for their child.”

These developments follow a temporary freeze in federal payments in January that disrupted HS operations across the country. Local programs, including Murray Head Start, were temporarily denied access to approved funds. The recent budget news adds to the uncertainty and forces programs to prepare for possible future disruptions.

The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is taking this news seriously and is asking Head Start families and communities to contact their federal congressional delegation to share the positive impact of Head Start and oppose any effort to eliminate or reduce funding. As Kentucky citizens, we can show our support by answering this call to action and sharing this widely. Other national organizations, including Start Early and the National Women’s Law Center, have also issued calls to action.

A 2023 poll from Public Opinion Strategies found that 80% of voters support providing more funding for Head Start, including 71% of Republicans and 89% of parents. The First Five Years Fund has created a Protect Head Start toolkit, offering resources and suggested actions:

• Contact your member of Congress
• Invite members of Congress to visit a Head Start program in their district during the recess period
• Spread the message on social media using #ProtectHeadStart
• Encourage your networks to take action
• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper

Head Start is one of the brightest treasures for generations of families in Kentucky and across the country. Tens of thousands of Kentuckians have had their life trajectories changed for the better because of Head Start. We must do all we can to preserve this legacy for future generations.