Head Start funding pause would affect child development and stability, expert warns
If the government shutdown cuts off funding for the federal Head Start program, the consequences for children, families, and educators could be far-reaching, says a Virginia Tech expert.
“Children enrolled in Head Start programs across the country are the children who need high-quality early education the most,” said Cindy Smith, a child development expert at Virginia Tech. “They will be losing a piece of their daily routines, which not only provides them with experiences to support their cognitive development but also social and emotional development, which is key during these years.”
The Head Start program offers early education, wellness, and other developmental services to children from birth to age 5. It served approximately 715,000 children and pregnant women in fiscal year 2024. The federal government funds Head Start programs through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.
Smith said a pause of Head Start services across many states will likely have a ripple effect on low-income families.
“Head Start also provides meals to the children, which then creates an additional burden on the families of these children,” Smith said. “Parents will be scrambling to find care for their children so that they can continue to work. It also impacts the teachers and administrators because there will no longer be funds to pay them, so they are essentially losing their jobs. Hopefully, funding resumes, but those employed by the Head Start centers may need to find other employment, which makes reopening the centers even harder.”
About Smith
Cindy Smith is a professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science with the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. She also runs the Children’s Emotions Lab.
Interview
To schedule an interview, contact Margaret Ashburn at mkashburn@vt.edu or 540-529-0814 or Jenny Boone at jennykb@vt.edu, or 540-314-7207.
