Planning for Head Start Stimulus Expansion

June 23 is the deadline for Head Start programs to submit applications to the Department of Health and Human Services if they want to use stimulus funds to expand their programs and serve more children. (Programs wishing to expand Early Head Start have a deadline of July 9.) This week we heard that the Head Start program in Alexandria, Va., plans to apply for $400,000 in stimulus funds to serve 54 more children, bringing enrollment up to 306. The program is run by a non-profit organization called The Campagna Center, which also is applying for funds to open more slots for infants and toddlers through its Early Head Start program.

Many Head Start programs are excited to be able to expand, especially considering the number of children on waiting lists across the country. The worry, of course, is what might happen after stimulus funds are depleted — will programs have to reduce the number of families they serve? We hope that agencies are putting together plans to handle such contingencies. But in the meantime, as I told the Washington Examiner on Sunday, it is important for communities with Head Start programs to manage growth in collaboration with other early childhood programs in the community as well as local elementary schools. Stimulus dollars for Head Start and pre-k will only pay off if they are backed up with comprehensive reforms to the K-12 system.

Do you work with a local Head Start program? What is your program planning to do with its stimulus dollars?