Strengthening Children, Youth and Families

Head Start/Early Head Start

Head Start and Early Head Start provide comprehensive, high-quality early care and education and support services to vulnerable young children from birth to kindergarten, pregnant women, and their families. Support services include access to health screenings, referrals, and follow-up support; parenting resources; and social services. CLASP promotes federal and state policies to expand access to Head Start and Early Head Start. Our analysis of state and national program data helps advocates and policymakers to make the case for maintaining and improving quality. For state fact sheets based on Head Start Program Information Report (PIR) data, go to In the States.

In Focus

Sequestration, Budgets, and Continuing Resolutions: The Story Continues

By Stephanie Schmit

Recently, Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the work of the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2013 (FY13). The CR contained small increases for both child care ($50 million) and Head Start ($33.5 million). For child care, it is estimated that the additional funds will serve 9,000 children and help to lessen the blow of the estimated sequestration cuts still in place. However, for Head Start most additional funds are for activities related to the designation renewal systems, also known as re-competition, and will not fund many additional slots.

Unfortunately, the CR did not eliminate sequestration. Therefore, harmful cuts from the sequestration will continue to affect children and families across the country as Head Start and child care programs cut their 2013 budgets by about 5 percent by reducing the number of children served, cutting back schedules, and making many other difficult choices.