Head Start California calls for more funding as TK expands

On the heels of state officials calling for big investments in the early childhood arena, Head Start California is calling for lawmakers to earmark $50 million for the organization in the 2021-22 budget.

Spurred by the unprecedented state surplus, legislators and the governor have pushed to invest in programs such as transitional kindergarten, or TK, and state-subsidized child care. That’s why Head Start officials are now asking for help as TK expands and takes away some of the 4-year-olds it currently serves.

“We applaud Gov. Newsom’s commitment to increasing access to early childhood learning and care for California’s families, and we agree that a deep and permanent investment is long overdue. To ensure that Head Start can continue to serve the thousands of children and families who rely on us, as well as expand access to those who need our services, now is the time for the state to invest in Head Start,” said Christopher Maricle, executive director of Head Start California. “The $75 billion budget surplus is an unprecedented opportunity for California to provide early childhood services to more families as soon as possible.”

Many early childhood advocates agree. More than 50 organizations, from the California Federation of Teachers to First 5 California, signed a letter to legislators. They make the case that Head Start, which now serves about 100,000 low-income children, needs more state funding to remain strong as TK expands. Because they can not easily shift their funding to serve more 0-3 year-olds, Head Start officials say this shift may destabilize the organization. 

“Without additional fiscal support that is equitable to the support provided to other parts of the mixed-delivery system,” they write, “the ability of Head Start programs to accommodate this change will be jeopardized.”