FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 04, 2026

Media Contact: Wanda Minick, Executive Director
Florida Head Start Association
[email protected] | (850) 694-6477

Florida Head Start Association Applauds Passage and Signing of FY26 Appropriations Bill, Preserving Increases for Head Start and Child Care

TALLAHASSEE, FL —The Florida Head Start Association (FHSA) celebrates the passage and presidential signing of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations bill, which secures critical federal investments in early learning. The bipartisan agreement retains the funding levels proposed by the Senate last summer, including meaningful increases for both Head Start and Early Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and

The final FY26 package includes:

• $12.4 billion for Head Start — an $85 million increase over FY25.
• $8.8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) — an $85 million increase over FY25. 

These investments come after months of uncertainty, repeated delays, and rising operational costs that have strained early learning programs nationwide. Finalizing FY26 funding provides long‑awaited stability for Florida’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which serve more than 40,000 children and families statewide.

“Florida’s Head Start community is relieved to see Congress complete this essential work,” said Wanda Minick, Executive Director of the Florida Head Start Association. “This funding allows programs to stay focused on what matters most — supporting children and families — without the cloud of uncertainty that prolonged negotiations create.”

A portion of the Head Start increase is dedicated to cost‑of‑living adjustments for staff. While FHSA welcomes this progress, the association notes that the increase follows consecutive years of near‑level funding that have not kept pace with inflation, workforce pressures, and the rising cost of delivering high‑quality early learning services.

“Programs across Florida continue to face significant challenges — from workforce shortages to higher food, transportation, and facility costs,” Minick said. “This increase is an important step, but it does not fully reflect the real costs programs are absorbing to meet the needs of children and families.”

With FY26 funding now complete, FHSA is turning its attention to FY27 and the need for stronger, sustained federal investment. Many programs continue to experience delays in receiving grant awards, and some have faced temporary disruptions as a result.

“As Congress begins work on FY27, we urge lawmakers to build on this momentum,” Minick said. “Florida’s children and families deserve stable, fully funded early learning programs that can recruit and retain qualified staff, maintain safe facilities, and deliver the comprehensive services that make Head Start so effective.

 About the Florida Head Start Association

The Florida Head Start Association (FHSA) advocates for and supports Head Start programs across the state. FHSA works to strengthen early childhood education, empower members to advocate, lead, and enhance the education, health, and social services provided, ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed.