Head Start and Early Head Start: A Proven Investment

What It Is:

Head Start is the nationʼs premier school readiness program for children in poverty. Since 1965, it has provided voluntary, comprehensive education, social and emotional development and physical and mental health services for three- and four-year-olds, as well as parent involvement efforts. Early Head Start was created in 1994 to provide comprehensive child development and family strengthening services for babies and toddlers (birth to age three). Both programs are authorized under the Head Start Act, which Congress has authorized through FY 2012.

How It Works:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awards competitive grants to community organizations such as local public schools, nonprofit organizations, faith-based entities and for-profit groups to operate Head Start centers at the local level.

Whom It Serves:

In 2008, Head Start served more than 900,000 kids at an average cost of $7,100 per child, while Early Head Start served almost 100,000 infants and toddlers at an average cost of $10,200 per child. 2,599 Head Start grantees run 17,975 Head Start and Early Head Start centers with 49,100 classrooms. Since its inception, Head Start has served more than 24 million children.

Unmet Need:

Head Start is so under-funded that it can only serve about half of the poor three- and four-year-olds eligible for the program, while Early Head Start serves less than five percent of the eligible babies and toddlers.

Why Itʼs Important:

Ensuring high-quality early care and education programs for all children in America is critical to sustaining and strengthening businesses, the economy, and your community:

• Employers need to hire people who are motivated and have a strong work ethic, the ability to solve problems creatively, sufficient math and reading skills, and the ability to lead and work well with others. Research confirms that one of the most important factors in developing these skills is quality, early care and education programs – and the earlier we start, the better the outcomes.
• A world-class workforce will be created through programs such as high-quality Head Start, Early Head Start, Pre-K and quality child care because they will:
  • Increase pre-math skills by as much as 21%;
  • Increase pre-reading skills by as much as 52%–74% for low-income children;
  • Cut placements in special education by as much as 43%; Increase graduation rates by as much as 44%; and
  • Increase median earnings by as much as 35%.
• High-quality early childhood programs will strengthen the economy in the short-term with each new $1 invested in the sector generating a broader economic impact of $2.
• Communities with these programs attract better and more qualified employees, reducing employee absenteeism and turnover, which saves business billions of dollars every year.
• These programs will strengthen the economy in the long-term, having high returns on investment of up to $16 for every $1 spent.

Funding Level:

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided a temporary infusion of $2.1 billion total for FY 2009 and FY 2010, creating 64,000 new slots, but that has since expired.  Congress provided $7.235 billion in funding for FY 2010.

Recommendation:

America’s Edge recommends that Congress provide $8 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start (an increase of $866 million over FY 2010).