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 community — local program leaders, teachers, family service staff, and parents — who refused to let politics interrupt a child’s learning, meals, or sense of belonging.
While federal offices went dark, Head Start centers across the country kept the lights on as long as possible. Directors cobbled together emergency funds, community partners stepped in with donations, and staff came to work not knowing when they’d next be paid. However, this has not been possible in every community, leaving nearly 10,000 students impacted by closed Head Start centers, resulting in thousands of parents without child care, and cutting access to healthy meals at an especially critical time.
