Ciscomani Leads Effort to Strengthen Childcare Workforce, Increase Access to Head Start Programs
January 14, 2025
WASHINGTON - U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) and Rep. Mikie Sherill (NJ-11) reintroduced legislation to address the childcare workforce shortage in Early Head Start programs and expand access to high-quality and affordable childhood education programs for students and families in need.
The Head Start Education and Development Workforce Advancement and Yield (HEADWAY) Act (H.R. 336) would allow teachers in Early Head Start classrooms to teach while simultaneously earning their Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials. By allowing teachers to earn their CDA credentials while teaching will afford Head Start programs greater hiring flexibility while at the same time supporting education professionals and expanding access to these much-needed programs.
Image
Ciscomani visits a Head Start program in Tucson (left) and delivers remarks at the Head Start on the Hill rally (right)
“As a dad of six, I understand firsthand the critical role early childhood development programs play and the need to expand access for students and families in need,” said Ciscomani. “With 22 Head Start programs across 500 locations in Arizona, these programs are critical to the well-being of our families and students. However, too often families in need are unable to access these programs due to the shortage in the childcare workforce. The HEADWAY Act makes great strides to address the staffing shortages by investing in our educators and ensuring that students and families in need have access to these vital programs.”
“Head Start is a critical program that ensures parents have access to safe, affordable childcare while setting up our kids for a lifetime of learning and success,” said Sherril. “However, I hear from Head Start and other childcare providers across New Jersey time and again about the challenges they face trying to find staff, limiting the number of families they can serve and creating financial hardships. I’m proud to help reintroduce the HEADWAY Act to address staffing shortages at Early Head Start programs and provide economic opportunities to New Jerseyans pursuing a career in early childhood education. This bill is an important step in the right direction as we work to expand affordable childcare access to every New Jersey family.”
The HEADWAY Act is supported by the National Head Start Association, the Arizona Head Start Association, Save the Children and local educators like Jeff Lavender, Superintendent of the Casa Grande Unified High School District (CGUHSD) and Maritza Higuera, a bilingual author and former teacher.
“The HEADWAY Act will empower Early Head Start programs by reducing entry-level hiring barriers and supporting new early childhood educators in their professional development. Encouraging programs to ‘grow their own’ will help ensure they have the qualified staff necessary to serve as many eligible children and families as possible,” said National Head Start Association Executive Director Yasmina Vinci. “We applaud Reps. Ciscomani and Sherrill for introducing this bi-partisan legislation which will provide a critical first professional stepping stone for staff while improving Early Head Start's capacity and ensuring we remain competitive and adaptable in an ever-changing workforce market.”
“Expanding equitable opportunities through the provision of targeted support for the Early Head Start workforce will nationally reignite much-needed childhood development programming,” said the Arizona Head Start Association. “The HEADWAY Act is designed to support the workforce through reasonable and critically needed considerations that will reconnect invaluable professionals to the field and sustain our efforts in supporting those most vulnerable."
“The HEADWAY Act, if enacted, would be a win for children and families across the United States,” said Christy Gleason, Vice President of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns at Save the Children. “This bill would strengthen the childcare workforce by providing a pathway for aspiring early educators to receive training and increase the capacity for programs like Early Head Start, ensuring more children receive a strong start in life.”
“Thank you to Congressman Ciscomani for his support in addressing the teacher workforce crisis we currently face in our state,” said Jeff Lavender, Superintendent for Casa Grande Unified High School District (CGUHSD). “This bill, the HEADWAY Act, will help recruit talented and willing future educators who are needed to impact the lives of our future students. Congressman Ciscomani understands that there are no quick fixes to this critical shortage, but his bill will provide quality educators with proven skills to enter the profession. Thank you for action, not just rhetoric, Congressman Ciscomani!"
“Opportunities for people with dreams of being teachers and helping our future leaders sometimes depend on a decision that, for them, becomes a future with hope and dreams to be fulfilled,” said Maritza Higuera, a bilingual author and former teacher. “We only need a simple YES to walk in the right direction to help others and surpass goals until we become leaders who will continue helping generation after generation. This bill provides that to many of our future educators while investing in our future students and their families. This will result in an investment in our schools, parents, and future students, as well as for a person about to become their best version with the simple goal of helping others.”
Full text of the bill can be found here.
Background:
- Head Start programs provide early education for 3 to 5 year-old children, with family support and comprehensive health and nutrition education for children. Early Head Start programs serve women who are pregnant and children 0 to 3 years old.
- In September 2024, Ciscomani attended the Head Start on the Hill rally to hear from educators and senior Head Start officials about the importance of early childhood development programs and provide an update on his work in Congress.
- As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, Ciscomani helped secure an increase in funding for Head Start in the FY 25 House appropriations package.
###