SEATTLE — Thousands of local families are facing uncertainty as the federal government shutdown threatens to halt funding for Head Start programs across western Washington — programs that serve many of the region’s most vulnerable children.
At least 18 Head Start programs in King and Pierce counties — all overseen by the Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) are on the brink of closing their doors. For families, educators, and children, it’s an emotional and economic crisis.
“Heartbreaking, right? Just heartbreaking that children and families are being impacted by a manufactured crisis,” said Lori Pittman with the Puget Sound Educational Service District.
These 18 Head Start programs under PSESD provide early learning opportunities to more than 1,200 mostly low-income families in the region. But with new federal funding now on hold, many centers say they may not be able to stay open beyond November.
“We would typically get funding starting tomorrow, and we’re not going to have that funding,” Pittman said. “So we’re all scrambling—how to stay open with zero dollars.”
For single mother Sohalia Ganje, who has four children including a two-year-old in a Head Start program in White Center, the Educare Early Learning Center, the thought of losing that support is overwhelming.
“Early learning is really, really important,” Ganje said. “Programs that serve some of the most vulnerable families — they need to stay open, and they need to fund that.”
Ganje describes the dilemma many parents are now facing: juggling work, caregiving, and their child’s early education without the help of Head Start.
“It feels like I’m stuck between giving them a safe place to learn and grow and putting them somewhere … where nobody really pays attention,” she said. “As an educator myself, that feels horrible.”
The Puget Sound Educational Service District has secured emergency funding to keep classrooms open through the end of November. But beyond that, Pittman says, the future is uncertain.
“Unless some big donation comes from someone who hasn’t come forward yet, that’s the only way we can stay open past November 30,” she said.
If funding doesn’t arrive, more than 900 staff members underneath the PSESD Head Start programs could face layoffs or furloughs beginning December 1.
“Our solution is to lean in, take care of your neighbor, and be community,” Ganje said. “But when we all don’t have it — what do we do?”
트위터 공유: 조기학습 위협받는 아이들