WASHINGTON, DC — In honor of Head Start Awareness Month, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08) has introduced new legislation aimed at expanding eligibility for Head Start, the nation’s largest federal early education program. Currently, eligibility for Head Start is mainly based on the federal poverty line, leaving many families in California without access to the program. These families often experience poverty due to the high cost of living in the state, even if their income is above the federal threshold.
The proposed “Expanding Head Start Eligibility Act of 2024” (H.R.9825) seeks to amend the Head Start Act to include families receiving various federal assistance programs, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and federal housing assistance. This legislation aims to broaden eligibility by including WIC and federal housing assistance while also ensuring TANF, SSI, and SNAP remain included for future administrations.
“While extreme right-wing groups threaten to eliminate Head Start, I am committed to working with Head Start administrators to increase access to this vital early education program,” Garamendi stated. “Expanding eligibility means our most vulnerable children and families will not be left behind. Every child living in poverty deserves the chance to learn and thrive. This legislation helps us move closer to that goal.”
Melanee Cottrill, Executive Director of Head Start California, expressed support for the legislation, saying, “Many families qualify for various federal assistance programs but are excluded from Head Start. This bill will help more vulnerable children and families access these crucial services. It will also stabilize enrollment in areas of California facing under-enrollment due to demographic changes and the state’s implementation of universal pre-kindergarten for four-year-olds. We appreciate that this bill allows local programs to determine which eligible children and families they can best serve.”
E Center also voiced support for the legislation, emphasizing that families relying on food and housing assistance should qualify for Head Start services. “This bill acknowledges that families in need of these basic necessities also require quality childcare, which supports them on their path to self-sufficiency. Childcare is essential for low-income families working toward stability,” said a representative from E Center.
Since its launch in 1965, the federally funded Head Start program has provided high-quality early education to over 39 million children from low-income families, equipping them with the skills they need to succeed in school and life. The program also collaborates with families and communities to offer health and nutrition services. Nationwide, Head Start serves more than 800,000 children each year, including nearly 95,000 in California.
The bill has received endorsements from several organizations, including Head Start California, NEA, AFT, AASA, California County Superintendents, the National Center on Housing and Child Welfare, and the Oregon Head Start Association.
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