Congress Passes FY 2024 Budget

The Florida Head Start Association would like to express our gratitude to the National Head Start Association (NHSA) and all of the Head Start programs in Florida and nationwide for their continuous work to ensure that funding to support Head Start services stays at the forefront of Congressional members' minds.

Over the weekend, Congress got to work and passed the final FY2024 budget package, which President Biden signed into law. This package avoided a partial government shutdown and provided a $275 million increase for a Head Start cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which amounts to approximately a 2.3% COLA. While this final number differs from the level NHSA was advocating for, we appreciate the bipartisan support Head Start received, which resulted in avoiding the devastating 6.5% cut included in the initial House bill. The bill also includes $8 million for the Tribal Colleges and Universities-Head Start Partnership Program and long-sought-after language that significantly expanded eligibility rules for the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start and American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start programs.

As Yasmini Vinci, NHSA Executive Director, stated in the NHSA press release, “We are grateful to both Congress and the Biden Administration for recognizing the significant role Head Start plays in supporting our country’s most vulnerable children and families and thank them for their meaningful work to increase funding for Head Start during this difficult and contentious congressional budget cycle.”

Since the FY2024 budget is finalized, Congress will ramp up action on the FY2025 budget. NHSA stated on Monday's stand-up call they will be requesting $15.67 billion to maximize the role Head Start and Early Head Start play in supporting our county's most vulnerable children and their families. This investment will support the Head Start workforce, provide a COLA in line with inflation, provide flexibility to address local quality improvements, allow for Head Start/Early Head Start expansion grant partnerships, and include funding to help programs facilitate implementation of the NPRM estimated by the Office of Head Start to cost $1.6 billion in FY25. 

Now it's time for us to get to work and thank our members of Congress for supporting Head Start in this funding cycle. Legislators will be in their districts for the next two weeks, which is an excellent opportunity to extend your appreciation and invite them to see your amazing work! Feel free to use these advocacy resources to assist with scheduling visits. If you need assistance. please contact me at (850) 694-6477 or [email protected]. 

In Partnership,