West Virginia (WVDN) — Concerns are mounting across WV after the National Head Start Association (NHSA) was contacted by a USA Today reporter on Friday, April 11, reporting that the Administration is considering the complete elimination of Head Start. While the budget has not yet been made public and the source remains unconfirmed, the possibility of losing this essential program has left advocates, educators, and families stunned.
The President’s budget is just a proposal—it must go through Congress and the appropriations process before anything becomes law; however, the idea of eliminating Head Start is so damaging, we cannot afford to stay silent. We’re calling on West Virginians to speak up while there’s still time to change course.
This unprecedented move would dismantle one of the nation’s most effective investments in children, families, and communities—and leave close to 8,000 West Virginia children without access to essential early education and family support.
Across West Virginia there are Head Start centers in over 400 different locations in 54 out of the 55 counties. These centers employ teachers, cooks, bus drivers, family service workers, and more. A closing of Head Start would not only halt the learning and care for thousands of vulnerable children but would raise unemployment and hurt the West Virginia economy.
Without legislative action, the proposal, as reported by USA Today, remains simply a proposal. For the sake of our children, families, staff, and our economy, we must not let this proposal become a reality.
Particularly in West Virginia’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. 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 not only in West Virginia but throughout our nation. We must protect Head Start.
