What do you know about Head Start?

Head Start is a federally funded program that emerged from President Lyndon B.Johnson’s War on Poverty in 1965. Head Start is a federally funded program providing comprehensive services to low-income pregnant women and families with children from birth to age 5, focusing on early learning, health, and family well-being to promote school readiness.

Are you aware that funding for Head Start is on the chopping block for our next U.S.

Budget due later in March?

Eligibility for Head Start programs recruit and enroll eligible pregnant women and children in your community. Your family may be eligible if you meet one or more of the criteria below:

Your income is equal to or below 100% of the federal poverty guideline.

Your family is eligible for public assistance, including TANF child-only payments.

Your family is experiencing homeless.

The child is in foster care.

I had the opportunity to work with Head Start, as a school district itinerant Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)teacher the last seven years of my teaching career. It was the most rewarding part of my 34 year career. This was an opportunity to have a direct impact on helping families with young children from birth to age 5, that some people have referred to them as parasites. These are genuine people who are doing their best to provide their children with early childhood learning experiences.

Head Start also has activities for the parents to help learn new skills too.

If funding is cut in the next federal budget, this viable program may be decreased or cut. Cutting or reducing funding for Head Start would hugely impact the families in outstate Minnesota who have young children. The school districts have also provided great early childhood education services for families with young children.

Unfortunately, many families in Head Start cannot afford to send their children to the public and private preschools in their communities.

I strongly encourage you to call, write and/or email our representatives in Washington D.C. to continue funding for Head Start. It was one of the best collaborating organizations to provide services for young children from birth to age 5 that I have worked with in my 34 year teaching career.

Please support Head Start, contact our representatives now.

— Anne Donnelly-Reiker is a resident of New Ulm