Shutdown closes Head Start programs as 65,000 children lose childcare

Track Head Start program closures and reopenings daily

Visit FFYF.org for daily updates on which programs have closed, paused services, or announced closures. Call the National Head Start Association at the number below to request the most current list of programs in your state facing Nov. 1 funding cliffs. After the shutdown ends, track how many programs successfully reopen and how many permanently closed. Document any staff reductions or layoffs. Check state early learning departments (e.g., state board of education) for data on whether state backfill funding prevented closures.

Interview Head Start parents and staff about economic impact

Contact Head Start programs in your area (find via headstartinfo.org, search by zip code). Request interviews with (1) parents who lost childcare and had to leave work or school, (2) teachers laid off or asked to work without pay, and (3) administrators trying to keep doors open. Document specific losses: weeks of missed wages, debt taken on via credit cards or retirement withdrawals, stress on family relationships, impact on children's learning. Compare shutdown period to the 35-day shutdown of Dec. 2018–Jan. 2019 to assess whether federal response has improved. Share findings with your member of Congress.

Demand congressional investigation into Head Start continuity planning

Contact House and Senate Education and Labor Committees. Request they hold a hearing on (1) why Head Start grant cycles are staggered and whether this creates preventable vulnerability to shutdowns, (2) why grantees cannot carry over unspent funds, creating zero financial buffer, (3) what emergency protocols exist to disburse grants even during shutdowns (like Medicaid or SNAP), and (4) proposed legislation to mandate automatic continuing appropriations for programs serving low-income children. Request they consider legislation authorizing Head Start grantees to use federal emergency reserves during shutdowns.

Track state supplemental funding responses

Minnesota fast-tracked state Head Start funding to fill gaps. Research whether other states (particularly Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Ohio, Kansas) approved emergency appropriations or redirected funds. Compare state-level speed to federal response. Document which governors (or state legislatures) acted to protect Head Start and which did not. Use state budget documents and governor press releases (available at state websites). This reveals political choices about who matters: states that protect children vs. states that don't.

Calculate economic impact of Head Start closures on local economy

Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data (bls.gov), estimate the number of parents who would need to leave work if childcare is unavailable. For Kansas City (2,300 children losing care), estimate the cost to the local economy if parents must take unpaid leave or quit. Compare this cost to the federal Head Start budget ($12.3 billion annually). The Point: the shutdown costs far more economically than maintaining Head Start funding. Share this analysis with your representative and local media.

Propose automatic continuing appropriations for child-serving programs

Advocate for legislation that mandates automatic continuing appropriations for federal child-serving programs (Head Start, SNAP, Medicaid) during government shutdowns. Submit testimony or letters to House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Reference the Automatic Continuing Appropriations Act proposed after the 2018-2019 shutdown. Explain that children cannot wait for political gridlock to resolve; essential services must continue. Coordinate with advocacy groups like NHSA, First Five Years Fund, and Children's Defense Fund to amplify this message.