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Raymond – director of Scott County Public Schools’ Head Start program – and Ault, the Virginia Head Start Association’s Executive Director, both say that uncertainty has been the key word in the wake of budget and program-cutting moves by Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency.

DOGE activity in March resulted in a block on the ability of Head Start programs across the country to access federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services ‘ computer portal to meet employee payrolls and other program expenses.

Raymond and Ault each said that freeze was resolved within a day but has left program officials nationwide with concerns.

“It wasn’t that bad, a one or two day delay,� Raytmond said Monday, “and things have been back to normal since then. We’re expecting to hear something soon, and there’s a lot of back and forth depending on what Congress will do.�

Despite the June 30 end date under the county school system’s state fiscal year, Scott County Head Start’s federal funding cycle ends Sept. 30. That means no funding cuts until Oct.1 – so far — Raymond said.

Raymond said she is “very optimistic� for now as the national and Virginia Head Start Associations ramp up their campaigns to educate the public and members of Congress on the program’s role and benefits.

“It’s been bumpy,� Ault said Tuesday of dealing with the DOGE funding freeze and trying to determine what the Trump administration will do to Head Start in next year’s budget. “Things have been moving, though, and we’re grateful.�

What elimination would mean: numbers

The Scott County Head Start program serves 147 children in two age groups: 32 infants and toddlers and; 115 children aged 3-4. The program employs 31 full time education professionals and staff and another 12 part-time substitute teachers, aides and support personnel.

The county program operates 11 classrooms – four infant-toddler and seven preschool-age – Raymond said, across four local centers: Nickelsville, Duffield, Gate City and Weber City.

The infant-toddler program is on a year-round basis, while the preschool program parallels the county’s school year.

The fiscal year 2024-25 budget for the county program is $2.671 million, said Raymond, and federal budget plans pre-DOGE would level-fund the program in the upcoming fiscal year.

If the Trump budget cuts Head Start, that means the end of all local Head Start programs, Raymond said, because federal money is the only funding for the program.

Statewide, Ault said, Head start programs serve approximately 14,000 children across 843 classrooms with more than 3,800 employees statewide and a $174 million total budget.

Almost 800,000 children are enrolled in Head Start nationwide, Ault said, and that has allowed more than one million parents to work, attend school or get job training during the day. In Virginia, that translates to more that 9,600 parents freed up for work, school or training.

“The budget proposal has not been firmed up,� Ault said Tuesday, but we’ve heard it’s likely that Head Start will be eliminated from the proposed federal budget. It’s hard for me to contemplate that they would do this.�

If Virginia Head Start programs are defunded under a Trump budget, Ault added, that means 14,000 program staff out of work and the 9,600 parents faced with a choice between work or staying home because of the cost of childcare.

Not just day care or high school

While Scott County Head Start does provide a no-cost preschool and childcare option for low-income working families, Raymond said that has not been the program’s main goal since it started in 1965.

“It plays a crucial role in early childhood socialization and development,� said Raymond. “We provide a range of health and nutrition services, and it’s been proven that it contributes to better childhood and adult outcomes for children and parents alike. Head Start builds healthier communities.�

More than Head Start’s role in communities grew when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, Raymond said. Like the county’s school system, Head Start adapted by providing at-home education and development kits, supplying food to families while centers were shut down, maintaining contact and support for families and focusing on mental health services for children and parents.

“We’re still providing much of that expanded service today,� Raymond said.

Head Start’s elimination was part of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 to change the government, Ault said. VHSA’s public information campaign counters Project 2025 accusations of Head Start ineffectiveness.

“Head Start provided two meals a day to all children in the program,� said Ault. “We provide dental, health, vision and developmental screenings so we can get them needed services, We’re able to get them that help earlier than if they waited until preschool age.�

Parental development is integral to Head Start, Ault added. Many parents are young or first-time, and the program helps with classes in budgeting, household management and how to provide educational and social enrichment for their children.

“For every dollar invested in Head Start, taxpayers see a return of $7 -$10,� said Ault. “This program isn’t just changing lives. It’s saving money. Cutting it would be fiscally irresponsible and morally indefensible.�

Getting support

Ault said Head Start has had bipartisan legislative support across its 60-year history, “but we’ve never been under this kind of threat before.�

“I would say they are listening,� Ault said of VHSA conversations with the Virginia congressional delegation. “I’ve met with (Ninth District) Congressman Morgan Griffith in his office , and Senators (Mark) Warner and (Tim) Kaine always have supported Head Start. We’re in the educating phase now, and we want to bring awareness to the American public about what impact we could see if Head Start is eliminated.�

Head Start also received federal support during the first Trump administration,� Ault added.

Kaine, Warner and 40 Democratic and independent senators sent an April 24 joint letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The letter cited closing of half of the ten regional Head Start offices and slowing the release of current-year grant funds to programs across the country.

“The Administration argues that eliminating Head Start, “is consistent with the Administration’s goals of returning education to the States and increasing parental choice.�� The letter stated. “It is shocking to see an argument that eliminating a program that provides comprehensive early childhood care and education to 800,000 children and their families would increase parental choice�

Online:

- Scott County Public Schools Head Start:

- Virginia Head Start Association:

- April 25 joint letter to Department of Health and Human Services on Head Start cuts,: