Rep. Kiley Sends Letter to HHS Secretary to Protect Head Start Programs

Washington, D.C. – Amid proposed changes to Head Start that have raised a variety of concerns among stakeholders, Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. stressing the importance of protecting access to the program for families in California and across the country.

Nationwide, Head Start serves more than 700,000 infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children each year, providing early education, health, nutrition, and family support services.

In California alone, as of 2025 approximately 80,345 children are served through Head Start programs.California has one of the nation’s largest Head Start networks, with approximately 140 programs and 1,885 statewide centers.

“As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, I recognize the important role that early childhood education plays in giving children a strong foundation for success,” said Kiley. “Head Start provides children and families with critical support during some of the most important years of a child’s development, and it is vital that access to these programs is not limited.”

 You can read the full letter here.

You can also watch Rep. Kiley’s questioning on Head Start to Ms. Hanna Melnick, Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Early Learning Policy at the Learning Policy Institute during today’s Subcommittee hearing, “Supporting Working Families: State-Led Child Care Solutions.”

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