Head Start programs face financial uncertainty amid budget impasse
Since the start of July, every day has been a struggle to make ends meet for Early Learning Connections — the agency that handles the Head Start and Early Head Start programs for Butler, Armstrong, Beaver, Indiana, and Lawrence counties.
Early Learning Connections is one of the 61 Head Start agencies across Pennsylvania that has been deprived of state funding because of the budget impasse that has stretched past 100 days.
“In terms of the state, we have not been funded,” said Early Learning Connections CEO Elisa Spadafora. “We have a discretionary amount of money that we can utilize. That's what we have been doing thus far to cover that for staff salaries, and we will continue to do that. But at some point that's going to run out.
“We do have a line of credit through a bank. We have not dipped into that yet, but if needed, we will do that.”
According to Spadafora, the program is still able to access federal funding despite the ongoing, simultaneous government shutdown — preserving access to federal Head Start programs at least through June 2026.
“As far as federal, the only thing that is affecting us is that the representatives that help us with the Head Start program are not around,” Spadafora said. “We continue getting payment because the payment is handled by a contractor in the federal government, and they have the money to keep paying us. So right now we can keep the federal programs up and running.”
However, the lack of state funding means that state-sponsored Head Start programs, such as pre-K Counts and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program, are operating on a shoestring budget.
“Our managers are making sure they only buy what they need,” said financial director Ken Rothert. “We're trying to reserve all the money for staff salaries and benefits.
Rothert said he is hoping to be able to keep the agency’s state-funded programs active through the end of the year, assuming the state budget impasse is not resolved by then.
“We feel that we can go up to at least the beginning of the new year,” Rothert said. “After that, it’ll be a guessing game.”
The financial strain comes as the national Head Start program is celebrating its 60th anniversary. The program was established in 1965 under the Lyndon B. Johnson administration as part of his “Great Society” initiative, to provide early childhood education for lower-income families.
The Pennsylvania Head Start Association held a 60th anniversary event at the state capital building in Harrisburg to both mark the occasion and spread the word about the harm being caused to families using the program by the twin government shutdowns.
“We have celebrated 60 years of Head Start’s legacy. Now, we must fight for its future,” said Kara McFalls, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Head Start Association. “Every day without a budget, we jeopardize our children's education, working families’ stability, and our overall economic success.”
Early Learning Connections is far from the only agency affected by the current situation. PathStone Corporation, which offers programs in five Pennsylvania counties, has had to lay off 48 staff members due to financial pressure. Jefferson-Clarion Head Start has had to lay off 50 staff members.
