Head Start for Our Future Act
The Head Start for Our Future Act would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to treat child development and early learning as an eligible category of community service under the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program. Specifically, it replaces the term “literacy training” in Section 441(c)(1) with a broader provision that includes “child development and early learning (including Head Start programs and Early Head Start programs carried out under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.)), literacy training.” This means colleges and universities could use FWS funds to place student workers in Head Start and Early Head Start settings as part of their community service options, alongside literacy-related activities. The bill aims to strengthen the early childhood workforce and provide students with work-based learning experiences in development and early learning environments. The actual impact will depend on appropriations, institutional rules, and the coordination between higher education institutions and Head Start programs.
Key Points
- 1Amends the Higher Education Act to include child development and early learning as a recognized community service under the Federal Work-Study program.
- 2Explicitly includes Head Start programs and Early Head Start programs carried out under the Head Start Act within the new category.
- 3Broadens the types of community-service jobs eligible for FWS funding beyond literacy training.
- 4Requires implementation by eligible colleges/universities in coordination with Head Start/Early Head Start sites, subject to existing FWS rules and funding.
- 5No new funding authorization is contained in the text; funding implications would depend on future appropriations and agency guidance.