FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2025
Michigan Head Start Association
Media Contact: Robin J. Bozek, Executive Director, 517-374-6472, robin@michheadstart.org
Proposed Elimination of Head Start in Federal Budget Raises Alarm Across Michigan and the Nation
East Lansing, Michigan — Concerns are mounting across Michigan after the National Head Start Association (NHSA) was contacted by a USA Today reporter on Friday, reporting that President Trump’s proposed federal budget includes the complete elimination of Head Start. While the budget has not yet been made public, the possibility of losing this essential program has left advocates, educators, and families stunned.
For nearly six decades, Head Start has enjoyed bipartisan support as a cornerstone of early childhood education, providing no-cost, comprehensive services to children from birth to age five and providing prenatal services for women. Every president—including President Trump in his first term—has previously supported the program’s mission of lifting up vulnerable children and their families.
The President’s budget is just a proposal—it must go through Congress and the appropriations process before anything becomes law. But the idea of eliminating Head Start is so potentially damaging, we cannot afford to stay silent. We’re calling on all Michiganders to speak up while there’s still time to change course.
In Michigan, Head Start’s impact is wide-reaching:
- In FY2024, over $436 million in federal Head Start funding flowed into Michigan’s economy.
- In FY2024, 27,656 children and families were served by Head Start programs statewide.
- More than 8,622 people were employed by Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Michigan.
- The parents of enrolled children were able to work, go to school, serve in the military, or participate in job training thanks to Head Start support.
Robin J. Bozek, Executive Director of the Michigan Head Start Association stated, “Eliminating Head Start won’t just hurt children, it will upend the lives of working families across Michigan and devastate local economies. This is more than early learning. It’s about access to healthcare, family stability, and long-term success. Never forget that we are preparing our future workforce.”
Head Start not only provides full-day early education and care for children birth to five but equally important it provides comprehensive services. These services include medical, dental, vision, and hearing screenings, healthy meals and nutrition resources, family goal-setting and parenting support, and lastly, referrals to housing, food, and mental health services.
Nationwide, nearly 800,000 children and more than 1 million working parents would be impacted if the program were eliminated.
Particularly in Michigan’s rural communities, where childcare options are already scarce, the loss would be especially devastating. Beyond the classroom, every Head Start dollar reinvests directly into the community through wages, local services, and supplies.
Eliminating Head Start would mean the loss of jobs—not just for teachers and staff, but for parents who rely on this system to maintain their own livelihoods. It would set back decades of progress made in helping children enter kindergarten ready to succeed.
Since its founding in 1965, Head Start has helped nearly 40 million families, offering a path to independence and opportunity through a proven, multigenerational approach. Research consistently shows the program yields long-term returns of $7–$10 for every federal dollar invested.
This is a moment that demands action. We must advocate for the well-being of families and our most vulnerable children in Michigan. Please act urgently to contact your members of Congress and voice strong support for preserving Head Start.
To download a PDF of this press release, click here