Head Start for America’s Children Act

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.