Iowa needs universal preschool

Head Start programs across Iowa, which offer free child care to vulnerable families, are curtailing operations and closing classrooms. That’s terrible news for a state already facing a chronic lack of access to affordable child care.

A state grant that some programs needed to operate fully was discontinued. Federal funding survived a pause ordered by the Trump administration, but the flow of federal bucks doesn’t even cover the cost of inflation.

State officials are seeking more centers to participate in the Child Care Assistance Program, providing grants to providers. But those grants also don’t cover expenses and bring with them an administrative burden that requires additional staff hours to comply. So, most Head Start programs don’t apply.

Head Start doesn’t qualify for other state grants because it isn’t considered part of the statewide voluntary preschool programs. Those programs are administered by school districts, providing a free, half-day program for 4-year-olds.

In addition to providing early learning programs, Head Start also serves many other needs.

“We are also making sure they are up to date with their well-baby checkups, physicals and dental appointments. We serve nutritious meals and provide mental health services to families in need, with a dedicated staff member available to connect them with necessary resources. It’s a comprehensive approach. We’re looking at the whole family and setting goals with the families and kiddos,” said Burke, Head Start director with Northeast Iowa Community Action, according to reporting by The Gazette’s Grace King.

The agency has closed five Head Start classrooms. That reduces the number of slots available for 120 children.

This should not be happening in Iowa, where Head Start is a lifeline for low-income families that cannot find an affordable program. Early childhood experts have said repeatedly that early educational intervention will improve kids’ chances for success in school and beyond.

This system is clearly broken. It’s time for Iowa to offer full-day, state-funded universal preschool to every 4-year-old in Iowa. Head Start can be part of that system.

Helping kids get ready to learn should be a top state priority. And if we always have enough bucks to cover tax cuts, surely, we can find the resources needed to make it happen.

Our system is frustrating for parents, bad for kids and heartbreaking for providers who do not want to turn children away. The solution could be a landmark bipartisan investment in Iowa’s future. Let’s make it happen.

(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com