WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is pleased to see a record investment of $12.27 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations bill signed into law by the President over the weekend.

“We are grateful to both Congress and the Biden Administration for recognizing the significant role Head Start plays in supporting our country’s most vulnerable children and families,” said NHSA Executive Director Yasmina Vinci. “We thank them for their meaningful work to increase funding for Head Start during this difficult and contentious congressional budget cycle.”

The bill includes $275 million for a cost of living adjustment (COLA), which amounts to a COLA of approximately 2.3% for Head Start staff. The bill also includes $8 million for the Tribal Colleges and Universities-Head Start Partnership Program, as well as long sought after significantly expanded eligibility rules for the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start and American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start programs.

“While this final number is not quite the level that we had desired,” Vinci continued, “the Head Start community remains deeply grateful for the bipartisan efforts of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, especially the leadership of Senate Chair and Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and House Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). However, compensation for the early childhood workforce, including Head Start, continues to rank in the lowest 10% of professions. With that in mind, NHSA is committed to working with the Biden Administration and 118th Congress to secure the resources necessary for Head Start  to continue to provide the high-quality services families depend upon to a maximum number of eligible children.”