Overview
- More than 65,000 children could lose access to early education, nutrition and health services if the funding halt continues, the National Head Start Association reports.
- Six programs serving 6,525 children in Florida, South Carolina and Alabama are already operating without federal dollars after missing Oct. 1 disbursements.
- An additional 134 programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico, serving 58,627 children, are set to lose funding on Nov. 1 if the shutdown is not resolved.
- The Mid-America Regional Council says it cannot legally incur Head Start expenses after Oct. 31 without an award notice, putting services for about 2,300 children and payroll for roughly 400 staff at risk.
- Local operators are tapping reserves, city advances and credit to stay open temporarily, while families face potential loss of child care and meals even as WIC received a short-term $300 million stopgap.