News

Ohio Head Start Programs in the News

October/November 2025

Government Shutdown
October 16, 2025
Head Start Press Release from OHSAI
Coshocton County Press Release
October 17, 2025
Early childhood programs could face funding crisis due to government shutdown - Interview with Julie Stone, OHSAI
October 21, 2025
Head Start keeping eye on government shutdown - Sidney Daily News - Council on Rural Services
October 22, 2025
Shutdown puts local Head Start program at risk - The Times Gazette - Highland County
October 23, 2025
Ohio Head Start programs face closure as government shutdown threatens federal funding - Coshocton County
October 24, 2025
Local childcare programs face closure as government shutdown impacts funding - Highland County
WOCAP to suspend Head Start Nov. 3 due to shutdown - West Ohio Community Action Partnership
October 25, 2025
7 Ohio Head Start programs in limbo as shutdown continues - Highland County
October 27, 2025
OHSAI Head Start Press Release
WOCAP suspends Head Start programs as federal shutdown drags on - West Ohio Community Action Partnership
October 28, 2025
Food, childcare aid for 150K area residents in jeopardy as federal shutdown drags on - Miami Valley Child Development Centers
Ohio Head Start programs face November closure from federal shutdown - Interview with Julie Stone, OHSAI
As federal shutdown continues, 3,700 Head Start children in Ohio could have nowhere to go - Highland County
October 29, 2025
JOINT STATEMENT: Groups Call on Congress to Protect Head Start, End the Shutdown
How government shutdown could affect child care in Ohio | NBC4 WCMH-TV (article) - Coshocton County
How government shutdown could affect child care in Ohio (video) - Coshocton County
Federal shutdown could shut out low-income kids in seven Head Start programs in Ohio | The Statehouse News Bureau - interview with Julie Stone, OHSAI
October 30, 2025
Head Start programs serving nearly 65,000 kids at risk of closing amid government shutdown - ABC News
Highland County child care program forced to close amid government shutdown - Highland County
Government shutdown threatens Head Start programs; thousands of children could be affected | wtol.com - Northwestern Ohio CA Commission
Locals prepare for Head Start to close amid shutdown | News | portsmouth-dailytimes.com - Scioto County
Ohio Head Start programs shut down
$220K donation keeps Lima Head Start programs open amid federal shutdown | News | hometownstations.com - West Ohio Community Action Partnership
How is the government shutdown affecting Head Start programs? - WFMJ.com - Alta & Columbiana County
October 31, 2025
As Time Runs Out, a Dozen Head Start Families and Providers Share Their Fears – The 74 - Highland County & Scioto County
Childcare centers face closure with no funding due to the shutdown – WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio - Julie Stone, OHSAI & Miami Valley Child Development Centers
2 Ohio Head Start programs face closure as government shutdown blocks funding - Julie Stone, OHSAI
Some Ohio Head Start programs face closure due to shutdown
Head start programs closing amid shutdown - Scioto County
Thousands of county residents at risk from federal shutdown | News | starbeacon.com - Ashtabula County
November 1, 2025
Ohio Valley Head Start Programs Fully Funded Into 2026, Despite Shutdown | News, Sports, Jobs - The Intelligencer - Belmont County
November 2, 2025
Protect Head Start. End the government shutdown | Opinion - Julie Stone, OHSAI
November 3, 2025
Head Start centers face closure during government shutdown | AP News - Scioto County
Press Release from OHSAI
Video Head Start programs begin to close as government shutdown disrupts funding - ABC News - Scioto County
Federal shutdown forces closures at some Ohio Head Start providers, others still at risk - cleveland.com - Julie Stone, OHSAI
Ohio Capitol Connection
November 4, 2025
Thousands of kids’ childcare threatened as federal child care closures hit Ohio | NBC4 WCMH-TV - Scioto County, LEADS
Government shudown not yet affecting local Head Start programs | The Blade - Toledo Public Schools, Lucas County Family Council, Northwestern Ohio CA Commission
Ohio's Head Start programs grapple with federal funding cancellations | Ideastream Public Media - Coshocton County & Julie Stone, OHSAI
Watch the video here - starts at 17:21 through 36:30
No quick fix for Head Start funding as programs start to close - Roll Call
Head Start Closures Could Derail Education for Black Children - Word In Black
November 5, 2025
States, donors and schools scramble to keep Head Start centers open — for now • Stateline
November 6, 2025
How one parent is navigating her local Head Start closure during the government shutdown | Here & Now - Scioto County
Head Start services across country feeling impacts of federal government shutdown - cleveland.com
WOCAP seeks emergency assistance as federal shutdown threatens operations | Allen County | hometownstations.com - WOCAP
November 8, 2025
Jospeh Pratt: Head Start represents the best of us (Opinion) | Opinion | portsmouth-dailytimes.com - Scioto County
November 9, 2025
Southeast Ohio families without early childhood program during shutdown - WOUB Public Media
November 10, 2025
Ohio Head Start programs suffer, close as federal government shutdown rolls on • Ohio Capital Journal
November 11, 2025
Shutdown leaves Ohio kids behind | News, Sports, Jobs - Tribune Chronicle - Coshocton County
CORS warns of potential Head Start Program shutdown – Peak of Ohio - Council on Rural Services
CORS announces possible suspension of services Dec. 1 - Miami Valley Today - Council on Rural Services
November 12, 2025
TPS to temporarily suspend Head Start, Early Childhood Education programs - Toledo Public Schools
Toledo Public Schools to temporarily suspend 'Head Start Services' due to government shutdown | wtol.com - Toledo Public Schools
Toledo Public Schools announces temporary shutdown of Head Start services | The Blade - Toledo Public Schools
Troy helps fund childcare and school-readiness program amid government shutdown | WYSO - Council on Rural Services
Troy to provide $5K to city’s Head Start program | WDTN.com - Council on Rural Services
November 13, 2025
Toledo schools pausing programs after shutdown - Toledo Public Schools
Families Brace for Continued Gaps in Head Start Service Despite Government Reopening
‘We’re feeling hopeful;’ Local Head Start fears closure due to delayed grant – 95.3 and 101.1 FM The Eagle - Council on Rural Services
November 14, 2025
Local Head Start programs await federal funding after shutdown | Allen County | hometownstations.com - WOCAP
November 15, 2025
The Shutdown Is Over, But Thousands of Kids Are Still Locked Out of Head Start – The 74 - Highland County

September/October 2025

Commissioned by early child advocates Groundwork Ohio and the Ohio Head Start Association Inc., in partnership with First Five Years Fund,
the statewide survey found broad support for state and federal policies aimed at increasing access to and lowering the cost of care.
Ohio voters support tax incentives, funding for child care access, survey finds - cleveland.com
80 percent of Ohio wants affordable childcare - GOP leaders give billions to the rich instead - cleveland.com|

OHSAI and Groundwork Ohio in DC
Standing Strong Together: Ohio Head Start and Child Care Advocates Take Their Message to Washington

May 2025

Spectrum with Amy Esser from Mercer County Headstart from 5-8-25

April 2025

Trump administration's draft budget proposal threatens to eliminate Head Start funding
Cleveland families facing uncertain future as Head Start program deals with funding cuts
Step Forward faces uncertainty after layoffs affect regional offices and service
Local Head Start program leaders, parents fear impacts of possible cuts to federal funding
Proposed Elimination Of Head Start Sparks Urgent Concern In Northwest Ohio
Fears rise over potential federal budget cuts
Proposed Head Start cut would impact over 3K area children - ‘Very scary’
Is Head Start funding on the federal chopping block? Ohio leaders fearful about Trump budget

Testimonies for Ohio Legislation

2022
Julie Stone, SUTQ - March 16, 2022
2023
Julie Stone, HB.33 - April 19, 2023
2025
Julie Stone, HB.96 - February 27, 2025
Julie Stone, HB.484 - October 28, 2025