With decades of research documenting the developmental and economic benefits of investment in the early years, states continue to expand their commitment to young children and their families–with the percentage of three- and four-year-olds enrolled in preschool reaching an all-time high during the 2022-2023 school year (NIEER, 2024). But even at this peak, state pre-kindergarten programs serve only 35% of the nation’s four-year-olds–and many fewer children aged three and under, presenting opportunities for new, high-yield investments in the states.
As state policymakers consider their options for optimizing early development and its associated benefits to both children and taxpayers, Head Start offers a ready-made and time-tested model of quality, providing both early childhood education and comprehensive family supports designed to simultaneously benefit two generations of constituents.
This resource is designed to introduce state policymakers to the Head Start model, opportunities for its improved integration within state early childhood systems, and examples of existing state-level investments to inform emerging efforts in the states.
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