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Congress·In Committee

Rep. Tlaib Introduces Bill to Raise Head Start Teacher Salaries to $60,000 and Expand Enrollment

Head Start for America’s Children Act

Also known as: Head Start for America’s Children Act

20 days ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • The bill would provide a massive funding boost to the Head Start program, starting with $144.8 billion in 2026. This money is intended to help the program reach more children and provide higher-quality services across the country.
  • Teachers and staff would receive a significant pay raise. The plan sets a minimum starting salary of $60,000 for educational staff and requires that their pay be similar to what local public school teachers earn.
  • More families would be able to enroll their children. Eligibility would expand to include families making up to 60% of their state's median income, as well as children in foster care, those with disabilities, and children of Head Start employees.
  • Most Head Start centers would be required to operate year-round. By late 2027, programs would need to offer at least 1,380 hours of service per year to better support parents who work full-time schedules.
  • The policy places a new focus on mental health and safety. It provides more funding for counselors and mental health screenings while strictly banning the use of physical or chemical restraints to control children's behavior.
  • Special grants would be created to improve facilities and transportation. This includes $5 billion to fix up buildings and over $91 million to buy buses so that children in rural or underserved areas can get to class safely.
EducationLabor EmploymentHealthcare

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 20, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Feb 20, 2026

Introduced in House

Related News

4 articles
NPR (Michigan Public)·20 days ago

Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib introduces bill to expand Head Start

Rep. Rashida Tlaib introduced the Head Start for America’s Children Act to expand the program to 11 million children. The bill would raise educator pay to at least $60,000, align program hours with working parents' schedules, and counter recent federal funding cuts and office closures.

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NYC Today·11 days ago

Tlaib Introduces Bill to Expand Head Start to 11 Million Children

The legislation would fully fund Head Start to serve 11 million children, raise educator pay to a $60,000 minimum, and expand eligibility to families earning up to 60% of state median income. It serves as the House companion to a Senate bill led by Sen. Bernie Sanders.

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Kitchen Table News·19 days ago

Rashida Tlaib Introduces Bill to Expand Head Start for 11 Million Kids

The proposed Head Start for America’s Children Act seeks to broaden the program's reach to 11 million children. Key provisions include securing full funding, adjusting schedules for working parents, and increasing educator salaries to a minimum of $60,000 annually with full benefits.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Head Start for America’s Children Act

Bill NumberHR 7637
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(32)
D: 32

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.