Head Start for America's Children Act

This bill amends the Head Start Act. It appropriates $144.872 billion for Head Start in fiscal year 2026, adjusted each later year for inflation, plus separate funds for facilities, transportation, workforce, extended hours, and child care partnerships. It requires most center-based Head Start and Early Head Start programs to operate on a full calendar year schedule (at least 1,380 hours) by September 30, 2027, with exemptions for migrant, seasonal, and Native American programs. It raises the income limit for eligibility from the poverty line to 60 percent of state median income and expands categories of children who qualify. It also adds provisions on mental health, disability services, Native American language and culture curricula, regional office staffing, and limits on restraint and seclusion.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Bernard Sanders Independent sponsor
• 16 cosponsors