Head Start And Early Head Start ARRA Funds Available

Apr 02, 2009

Today, the federal government announced a total of $2.3 billion being made available to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs and services. Head Start and Early Head Start received a total of $2.1 billion in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). [$1.1 billion in ARRA funds are dedicated specifically for Early Head Start expansion and $1 billion in ARRA funds will flow through the Head Start formula, which was revised in the 2007 reauthorization.] The program also received $235 million in increased funding for FY 2009.

According to a press release and guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services, the funds from the ARRA and increase for FY 2009 combined include:

• $220 million for expansion of Head Start (including American Indian/Alaskan Native Head Start programs and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs),
• $1.3 billion for expansion of Early Head Start,
• $326 million for grantees for cost of living adjustments,
• $354 million for quality improvements, and
• $141 million for training and technical assistance.

Current grantees will be notified soon regarding the COLA amount and quality improvement allocation for which they may apply.

The Head Start expansion funds are intended to serve an additional 16,600 children and families. The expansion funds for Early Head Start are intended to serve 55,000 additional infants, toddlers, and pregnant women. Early Head Start expansion funds will be awarded through an open competition with applications available in coming weeks. Both existing grantees and new programs will be eligible to compete.

The funds also include $100 million for state early childhood advisory councils. Additional guidance on Early Head Start expansion and state advisory councils is expected soon.