In 1965, America launched Head Start, a free birth to 5 early learning program for the nation’s most vulnerable children.
Head Start is still essential today – especially in rural communities, where too many families can’t access or afford child care.
But the government shutdown is putting their lifeline at risk.
If Congress doesn’t act soon, 140 Head Start programs across 41 states will miss the federal funding they rely on. Many will be forced to close their doors, leaving up to 65,000 kids without care.
While Save the Children runs Head Start centers across the country, SCAN helps ensure they’re fully funded and accessible to every family who needs them.
Tomorrow SCAN advocates are uniting in a nationwide Day of Action to stop this critical program from shutting down.
Research proves that Head Start boosts children’s chances of graduating high school, going to college, finding steady jobs and even climbing the ladder out of poverty.
