Why Phoenix is restructuring Head Start program that serves low-income families
Phoenix may reduce the number of low-income families it can serve through a federal program that promotes school readiness.
Phoenix receives more than $200 million to cover five years of its Head Start Birth to Five programs. But the city’s failure to meet full enrollment led federal officials to put Phoenix on notice: Fix it or lose money. As of May 31, 2023, enrollment was 68%.
“The primary issue that we will have to deal with if we do not meet our full enrollment is that the Office of Head Start, under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has been very, very clear that they will come in and reduce our slots based upon what they believe is the assessment, as well as they will reduce our funding,” Human Services Director Marchelle Franklin said.
Funds will go to staff, full day services
Now, Phoenix is planning to reduce the number of Head Start slots by more than 1,000. Doing so, program administrator Patricia Kirkland said, will provide more full-day preschool, and “the competitive and sustainable salaries for teachers and instructional assistants, will be met, which will help to retain and hire new staff and slots will be located in the areas of highest need.”
"What we have before you allows us to maintain our funding today in order to be able to do what we need to do to address the workforce, affording full days and those types of things," Franklin told a council subcommittee Wednesday.
In anticipation of converting and reducing slots, Kirkland said they limited the number of slots filled so that no current children are displaced.
Almost half of grantees face scrutiny
If the Office of Head Start approves Phoenix’s plan to serve 2,200 families, it must meet full enrollment — at least 97% — by April and continue for six straight months.
Franklin said Phoenix is not the only Head Start grantee that is facing enrollment scrutiny. Staff told the subcommittee that in March 2023, 48% of grantees across the U.S. were enrolled at 70% or less of their funded slots.
A family is eligible for Head Start if the household income is at or below 100% of the federal poverty level. For example, a gross annual income of $30,000 for a family of four. Families experiencing homelessness or receiving public assistance and children in foster care are also eligible.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The headline of this story has been updated to clarify that the city is proposing that the program be restructured.
