• 03 Feb 2026

Congress Completes FY26 Appropriations Package, Gives Modest Increase to Head Start

Spending bill includes an $85 million increase for Head Start as NHSA looks ahead to FY27 priorities. ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Head Start Association (NHSA) welcomed today’s passage by […]

• 09 Jan 2026

Statement From the National Head Start Association on Child Care Funding Freeze

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Head Start Association is deeply concerned about the federal government’s decision to freeze human services funding, including the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), in […]

• 13 Nov 2025

When the system failed, Head Start didn’t

Alexandria, Va. – With the federal government finally reopened after more than 40 days of gridlock, the National Head Start Association (NHSA) honors the extraordinary efforts of the Head Start […]

• 01 Nov 2025

The Shutdown is Hurting Children and Families

Every day this shutdown continues, children and families are paying the price across the country. Head Start is not a political issue. It is a lifeline for working families. This […]

• 10 Jul 2025

Statement from National Head Start Association Executive Director Yasmina Vinci on HHS Decision To Change Head Start Enrollment Criteria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is alarmed by today’s announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) that will require Head Start programs […]

• 04 Jul 2025

Head Start Families will be Highly Impacted by the “One Big Beautiful Bill”

On July 3rd, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the budget reconciliation bill—known as the “Big Beautiful Bill”—which President Trump signed on July 4th. There are many harmful impacts this […]

• 09 Jun 2025

52000 Head Start Families and Alumni Sign Letter to President Trump Urging Support

“The president championed Head Start during his first term, providing critical resources to help families and their children build a strong foundation for lifelong success,” said Yasmina Vinci, executive director […]

• 30 May 2025

NHSA Statement on Level Funding for Head Start in President’s FY2026 Budget

Today, President Trump released his administration’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which includes flat funding for Head Start, meaning our programs would be funded at the same level for […]

• 16 May 2025

Head Start turns 60: Alumni reflect on lifelong impact of early learning

In the six decades of Head Start’s existence, it has served nearly 40 million children and their families. But supporters and alumni are quick to point out that the program […]

• 05 May 2025

Jennifer Garner lobbies Congress to save Head Start program

After an early draft of President Donald Trump’s budget threatened to defund the Head Start program, Jennifer Garner leapt into action to lobby Congress and save the program that serves […]

• 28 Apr 2025

Proposed federal cuts leave Virginia Head Start Association asking: ‘How could we recoup that?’

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Head Start programs across Virginia could soon face major challenges. Proposed federal cuts by the Trump administration would impact thousands of children who rely on this […]

• 17 Apr 2025

What to Know About Head Start, the Early Childhood Education Program the Trump Administration Is Proposing to Eliminate

The Trump Administration, which has promised to dismantle the Department of Education, has come after higher education—freezing funding for elite universities and revoking international student visas. Now, it’s targeting early […]

• 16 Apr 2025

Internal budget document reveals extent of Trump’s proposed health cuts

HHS would be asked to absorb a $40 billion cut, about one-third of its discretionary budget.

• 16 Apr 2025

Advocates worry over possible cuts to Head Start

Worries are growing over funding for Head Start, the decades-old federal program that provides childcare, nutrition assistance and other services to the nation’s poorest families. Why it matters: Shuttering the […]

• 11 Apr 2025

Exclusive: Trump budget proposal would fully eliminate Head Start

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is considering a budget proposal that would zero out funding for Head Start, a program created during Lyndon B. Johnson’s “war on poverty” that offers […]

• 15 Sep 2024

Final Rule Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming

The Administration for Children and Families released a final rule in the Federal Register, Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming. The rule updates the Head Start Program Performance […]

• 21 Aug 2023

Welcome our New Board President!

Kim Hill Elected President Of Virginia Head Start Association Board Of Directors Kim Hill, People Incorporated’s Associate Director of Child and Family Development, has been elected as the new President […]

• 05 Apr 2023

2023 VAHSA Health Institute

The Virginia Head Start Association recently hosted our Health Conference in Charlottesville, Virginia, welcoming health specialists, family service Head Start specialists, and other health professionals. The conference was pleased to […]

• 03 Jan 2023

Welcome 2023!

• 27 Dec 2022

2023 Health Institute Announced!

• 23 Nov 2022

Learn about the Chickahominy Indian Tribe of Charles City, Virginia Childcare programs

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we want to share a profile of some attendees to our Annual Conference, The Chickahominy Tribe of Charles City, Virginia. While it is […]

• 17 Aug 2022

We need Parent Reps on our Board!

Meet our Northwest parent Board Rep: Kerri Banks Kerri is our Northwest region Parent rep on our board. She is a parent with Skyline CAP Program. Kerri started with Head […]

• 14 Jul 2022

Meet our Board Members

While you can see all of our Board and meeting minutes on our Leadership page here: https://headstartva.org/about-us/our-leadership/ We want to share a little bit more about a few of our […]

• 06 Jul 2022

New Program Directors 2022!

We have many new program Directors for 2022 and we would like to welcome and support them here on our VAHSA website.  If you know of anyone who should be […]

• 28 Apr 2022

Scholarship Winners

We are pleased to announce the 2022 winners of our Annual Nancy Elmore Scholarship recipients. The Nancy Elmore Scholarship is a wonderful opportunity for two people to receive some financial […]

• 15 Mar 2022

An introduction to Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

    Reconceptualizing Social Determinants of Health and Working Towards Systemic Change . . . is one of the many engaging offerings we have lined up for our Virtual Health […]

• 20 Feb 2020

Parent Ambassadors Visit The General Assembly

The 2020 VAHSA Parent Ambassadors visited Richmond on January 22 to share their compelling stories with State Delegates and Senators about how Head Start has impacted their lives. They valued […]

• 19 Feb 2020

Playdate at the Capitol – February 17, 2020

Our group with First Lady Pam Northam Virginia Head Start Parent Ambassadors joined other ECE stakeholders in advocating for early childhood education at the State Capitol. They brought their children […]

• 02 Mar 2019

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes: Teaching Children at Head Start

By Jennifer Lazzo   Head Start. It’s an easily recognizable name, but do you know what the program is designed to do? Head Start provides young children from low-income families and children […]

• 21 Jun 2018

Establishment of The Governor’s Executive Leadership Team on School Readiness

The Governor and First Lady announced an Executive Directive to establish an Executive Leadership Team on School Readiness, which will be co-chaired by Commissioner Duke Soren and Chief School Readiness […]

• 20 Jun 2018

Virginia’s First Lady visits programs across Virginia

Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam, and Chief School Readiness Officer Jenna Conway, visit Head Start classrooms and other early childhood facilities in a Back to School Tour.   In June 2018, […]

• 15 Jun 2018

Dr. Deborah Bergeron visits Prince William County Head Start Program

Dr. Deborah Bergeron, Director of the Office of Head Start, visited Prince William County Head Start program on June 5, 2018.  Dr. Bergeron visited three Head Start classrooms to learn […]