Biden Administration Proposes Salary Increase for Head Start Teachers

Without additional congressional funding, the proposal could lead to fewer slots in Head Start programs.

The Biden administration has proposed a federal rule that would require Head Start programs to raise teachers' salaries to match those of local public school teachers, potentially increasing wages by up to $10,000 over the next seven years.
Head Start teachers, many of whom are required to have a bachelor's degree, currently earn an average of $39,000 a year, significantly less than educators with similar credentials.
Head Start teacher turnover has doubled over the last decade, with an estimated one in five teachers leaving their classroom last year.
The proposed salary increase could lead to a reduction in Head Start slots if Congress does not grant additional funding for the program. Currently, as many as 275,000 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are on waitlists nationwide.
Health and Human Services is counting on Congress to provide additional funding to Head Start, and is giving programs until 2031 to fully increase their salaries to match local teacher pay.