WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), a member of the Congressional Head Start to Congress Caucus, was joined by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) and Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01) to introduce the Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act to triple annual funding for Head Start and Early Head Start to $36 billion for Fiscal Years 2027-2032. The bill aims to infuse federal dollars into the early education program to expand access to more children and families, recruit and retain staff, and address dire physical infrastructure needs.
Head Start is the nation’s flagship early learning program, supporting healthy child development and acts as a lifeline for the most vulnerable children and families in the United States. In Fiscal Year 2026, Head Start served nearly 700,000 children and families, including more than 4,450 in Connecticut. Despite the proven success of Head Start and Early Head Start, they remain largely under-resourced, outdated, and understaffed. Earlier this year, the National Head Start Association found that nearly twenty percent of all Head Start and Early Head Start staff positions were vacant. Additionally, the most recent Head Start Facilities Report submitted to Congress by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that 61 percent of Head Start facilities surveyed were identified as needing improvement to their physical infrastructure. Without intervention, the worsening workforce and infrastructure crises could jeopardize Head Start programs in Connecticut and throughout the country.
“Head Start is one of the greatest anti-poverty programs that we have. It offers high-quality education, health, and social services to the youngest and most vulnerable among us during a critical developmental stage,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “The Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act demands immediate action in addressing the growing needs of this vital program and allows more families to access its services.”
“It's critical that America's children receive a first-class education and have opportunities that create a solid learning foundation. Under the Trump administration, critical federal education programs and agencies have been increasingly under threat,” said Congresswoman Lofgren. “For more than 60 years, Head Start has played an important role in helping children enter school ready to learn and succeed. I am proud to join Reps. Hayes and Landsman in introducing the Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act to protect and preserve the Head Start program.”
"High quality preschool makes such a difference in our children’s lives, and Head Start gives families the support they need to succeed. Our legislation will help more families give their children the best possible start," said Congressman Landsman.
Specifically, the Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act would:
- Expand eligibility to include families with children 5 years old and younger who are:
- At or below 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
- Eligible for assistance under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
- Triple annual funding levels to $36 billion for Fiscal Years 2027-2032.
- Establish a grant program providing $1 billion in annual funding to renovate, expand, and acquire program facilities.
- Provide student loan forgiveness for Head Start and Early Head Start child care workers.
- Establish a grant program to increase salaries for Head Start and Early Head Start workers.
The Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act is the latest action Congresswoman Hayes has taken in support of the early learning and wraparound service program. In March, Congresswoman Hayes led 189 Members in a Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations letter requesting $14.27 billion for Head Start. Additionally, following efforts from the Trump Administration to eliminate Head Start, Congresswoman Hayes joined Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) and Congressman André Carson (IN-07) in introducing the Every Child Deserves a Head Start Act, legislation to permanently protect the program and restore shuttered Head Start regional offices. Further, Congresswoman Hayes is a founding Member of the Head Start to Congress Caucus, a bipartisan, bicameral, group of Head Start alumni lawmakers dedicated to protecting and strengthening Head Start.