According to an April 2025 poll, 79% of voters, including 74% of Trump voters, support the Head Start program (Five Year Fund). This overwhelming bipartisan support for Head Start highlights the program’s broad appeal. Despite this, the current administration is threatening the program by withholding funds, reducing staff by 50%, and even considering shutting it down completely. Research and lived experiences highlight what is truly at risk for young children, families, and broader society if Head Start disappears.
What is Head Start?
Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded programs that provide high quality education, health screenings, nutrition, and family support (Office of Head Start, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). These programs serve more than 750,000 children aged 0-5 years primarily from low-income families and disadvantaged communities (First Five Years Fund, 2025).
Education Benefits
Children from low-income families and communities often lack access to safe environments and educational resources, limiting the development of essential skills such as executive functions, language, and strong social bonds (Griffin et al., 2016). Head Start participation has been shown to improve social competence and kindergarten readiness defined by reading and math scores (Zhai et al., 2011). The children are also 2.7% more likely to complete high school and be economically self-sufficient as adults (Bailey et al., 2021). Head Start plays a significant role in closing the equity and opportunity gap, benefiting these children throughout their lives.
Impacts for Health Outcomes
Children from low-income families are at higher risk to have health issues and are disproportionately affected by climate changes such as extreme heat, air and water pollution, and susceptibility to infectious diseases, further exacerbating health disparities (Bennett et al., 2014). Head Start helps mitigate these disparities by providing comprehensive services beyond education including greater access to healthcare and nutritional support leading to better health and emotional outcomes (Lee, 2020). These children also have better cardiovascular and metabolic health outcomes as adults, illustrating these health benefits last a lifetime.
Why it Matters for All of Society
Head Start not only benefits participating children, but all of society. Head start children will grow up to be healthier, more educated and economically secure adults who will be more likely to contribute to the community and less likely to be reliant on federal programs. Head Start reflects our shared value of giving all our children a safe and enriching environment to have the best possible start in life.
A Call to Action
Despite widespread support and extensive evidence of its positive impact, Head Start is under threat1 Here is what you can do:
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- Talk to your neighbors about the benefits about Head Start and similar programs for young children.
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- Learn more about and volunteer local programs and initiatives that support early childhood development and young families.
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- Call your local congressional representative and share your passion and desire for them to support full funding for Head Start. ,
We must do all we can to support this evidence-based program that gives all children the best start in life! Learn more about Head Start at: https://headstart.gov/
References
Bailey, M. J., Sun, S., & Timpe, B. (2021). Prep School for Poor Kids: The Long‑Run Impacts of Head Start on Human Capital and Economic Self‑Sufficiency. American Economic Review, 111(12), 3963–4001.
Bennett, C. M., & Friel, S. (2014). Impacts of climate change on inequities in child health. Children, 1(3), 461–473. https://doi.org/10.3390/children1030461
First Five Years Fund (2025). New Poll Shows Broad Bipartisan Support for Head Start. https://www.ffyf.org/2025/04/29/new-poll-support-for-head-start/
Grant, A. R., Ebel, B. E., Osman, N., Derby, K., DiNovi, C., & Grow, H. M. (2019). Medical home–Head Start partnership to promote early learning for low-income children. Health Promotion Practice, 20(3), 429–435. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839918764894Top of Form
Griffin, J. A., McCardle, P., and Freund, L. S. (Eds.). (2016). Executive function in preschool-age children: Integrating measurement, neurodevelopment and translational research. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association
Lee, K. (2020). Long-term Head Start Impact on developmental outcomes for children in foster care. Child abuse & neglect, 101, 104329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104329
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2019). Vibrant and healthy kids: Aligning science, practice, and policy to advance health equity (Y. Negussie, A. Geller, & J. E. DeVoe, Eds.). National Academies Press. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551492/