By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
A total of 134 Head Start programs in California and across the country will not receive their operational funding if the federal government shutdown extends beyond Nov. 1 These early-learning programs are located in 41 states and Puerto Rico and serve more than 65,000 children, according to the First Five Fund.
The First Five Years Fund is a national organization that advocates for federal early childhood education and childcare policies.
U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, warns that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would also face dire consequences if the government shutdown continues.
A former Head Start teacher, Waters introduced the Head Start Shutdown Protection Act, H.R. 5790, in the House of Representatives on Oct. 17. It would require the federal government to reimburse state and local governments for funds they spend to keep Head Start and Early Head Start programs running during the gridlock.
“The (bill) requires the federal government to reimburse states, local governments, and school districts that use their own funds to continue the operations of Head Start programs in their communities and enable Head Start grant recipients to remain open and continue to serve the children and families who depend on them,” Waters stated.
The Head Start program was created in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty.” It started as a summer-only demonstration project to provide comprehensive early childhood education, health, and nutrition services to children from low-income families.
The program supports early childhood education and school readiness for the country’s most vulnerable children. It serves low-income children from birth to age five, including those living in poverty, in foster care, and experiencing homelessness.
In California, the state had approximately 1,835 Head Start-Early Head Start centers, with about 94,577 funded slots in 2023, according to a report by Learning Policy Institute (LPI). LPI, a nonprofit organization that conducts research and advocates for evidence-based education policies.
Black or African American children make up about 28% of all Head Start participants nationally.
Based on analyses of the 2020–2021 school year from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), Black or African American children made up 8% of Head Start and Early Head Start children in California. The state’s overall Black child population hovers around 5.6%.
“As a former Head Start teacher, I know that Head Start provides a strong foundation for vulnerable young children, setting them up for academic success and a lifetime of learning,” Waters stated. “We cannot allow the government shutdown to disrupt their education, their families, and their potential for success.”
SNAP is set to run out in November as well, and benefits are at risk of not being paid, affecting approximately 42 million Americans. On Oct. 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) notified states that there will not be enough money to cover full benefits if the shutdown continues.
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According to the California Association of Food Banks, approximately 5.5 million people in California receive food assistance through SNAP, known as CalFresh. In Los Angeles County, 1,578,521 people receive CalFresh assistance, 377,207 in San Bernardino County, 399,949 in San Diego County, 175,009 in Alameda County, 109,295 in San Francisco County, 251,039 inFresno County, and 266,319 in Sacramento County.
Mike Johnson (R-LA-4), the Speaker of the House of Representatives, referred to the government closure as the “Democrat Shutdown.” The Bossier City, La., native stated on Oct. 23 that the Democrats are using the shutdown as “leverage” and inflicting “suffering” on American families.
“They want to extend those Obamacare subsidies permanently without any reforms. Oh, by the way, restoring health care to illegal aliens, again, that’s 200 billion of their demand,” Johnson stated. “That’s what they’re leveraging. They’re using the American people as pawns in this game and as leverage to get all of that.”
Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-8), have rebuffed Republican attempts to tie immigration protections to the Washington stalemate.
On Oct. 22, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he will deploy the California National Guard and state volunteers to help distribute food as the federal shutdown threatens benefits for millions of residents.
“This is serious, this is urgent – and requires immediate action. Millions of Americans rely on food benefits to feed their families, and while Republicans in Washington drag their feet, California is stepping up once again to fill in the gaps,” Newsom said.
Waters shared that previous government shutdowns have caused a few local Head Start grant recipients to temporarily close, suspending programs and services with minimal or no warning.
During the October 2013 shutdown, Waters stated, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reported that six Head Start grant recipients serving nearly 6,300 children closed their doors for several days.
“Vulnerable children and families and the dedicated Head Start teachers and staff who serve them should not have to suffer because of a government shutdown that is beyond their control,” Waters stated. “I introduced this bill to ensure that Head Start grant recipients will be able to remain open and continue to serve the children and families who depend on them.”
