Head Start facing elimination after 60 years

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe said this week he would consider using state surplus funds to keep Head Start going if Congress approves discretionary spending cuts for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed by the Trump Administration. His comments follow a leaked draft of the federal budget proposing zeroing out Head Start funding, one of the nation's longest-standing anti-poverty programs, which has received bi-partisan support for 60 years. 

President Lyndon B. Johnson established the program in 1965 as part of his administration's "War on Poverty". The program promotes school readiness and overall well-being from birth to age five, serving children and families living at or below the federal poverty line, including pregnant women. Head Start is not just an education program; it's a comprehensive system that includes health screenings, nutrition, mental health services, and family support. Early Head Start serves infants, toddlers, and pregnant women.  

Head Start is a "federal-to-local" program, which means the funds flow directly to communities. The program does not mandate a curriculum but instead allows for locally-driven decisions. For example, Central Missouri Community Action administers the Head Start program across 10 counties in mid-Missouri. The agency also assists families with housing, financial planning, and employment services and works to eradicate the causes and conditions of poverty. 

The Office of Head Start, housed within the HHS, oversees $12.2 billion annually. It serves over 778,000 children, making it the most extensive early childhood program in the United States and the most significant investment in dedicated early childhood education.  

In FY24, Missouri received $208.5 million for 13,278 seats, and Kansas received $87 million for 6,267 seats. Nearly half of all funded slots are in rural districts, and in many instances, Head Start is the hub and often the only access point for early childhood services like child care.  

What is behind the push to cut funding? 

The administration's plan appears tied to a broader effort to reduce federal programs and shift control to states. Cutting Head Start could also help pay for tax reductions. Some critics, such as those cited in Brookings Institution analyses, claim the program is outdated or ineffective—but those views are based on old data and miss what newer research has shown. 

More recent studies link Head Start to gains in kindergarten readiness, physical health, and social development. It also helps parents stay in the workforce or return to school, especially in rural areas with few other options. Child care shortages already plague both states. Eliminating Head Start would force more families into unlicensed care or out of the workforce altogether. No other program offers its combination of education, health, and family services. 

In a recent interview, Dr. Deborah Bergeron, who led the Office of Head Start during Trump's first term, expressed concern at the proposed cuts. "Head Start would preserve millions and millions of people in this country in terms of their opportunity to achieve the American Dream," she said. 

While the Trump Administration's budget proposal would eliminate funding for Head Start, that action requires Congressional approval. The current appropriation chairs in the Senate and the House have gone on record with strong support for Head Start.  

The Missouri Head Start Association published this video to celebrate the programs 60th anniversary.