In the face of staff cuts, funding freezes, and threats to zero out its budget – Head Start has survived… for now.
This program serves almost 800,000 kids throughout the country –15,000 in Washington State alone. Many of these children are low-income, disabled or in foster care.
A Trump Administration budget proposal leaked in April put all Head Start funding on the chopping block. Providers in multiple states, including Washington, filed a lawsuit last week, aiming to halt the elimination of the program and actions, they say, further undermine it.
But on Friday there was a bit of a reprieve: the Administration’s budget summary did not list Head Start as one of their defunding targets, and an official told reporters there would be no changes to the program.
But the lawsuit will continue. And, according to supporters, this dismantling of the program has been in the works for a while.
Guest:
Joel Ryan, the Executive Director of the Washington State Association of Head Start.
Links:
Head Start survives Trump administration budget proposal
WA Head Start staff locked out and let go due to Trump cuts
Washington ACLU sues Trump administration over attempts to dismantle free Head Start preschool program
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