Georgia celebrates 60th birthday of Head Start amid funding fears

Head Start, a federal early childhood education program, celebrated its 60th birthday Monday — and the YMCA of Metro Atlanta threw it a party.

The YMCA, which is Georgia’s largest provider of Head Start, celebrated the program’s impact over the last six decades with a student rendition of “Happy Birthday,” cupcakes and a card signing.

The celebration comes at a time of uncertainty for Head Start, which officials noted during the party. In recent months, Head Start providers, families and advocates across the country have feared for the program’s future. An early version of the White House budget proposed eliminating funding for the federal program altogether, but more recent budget documents leave the program intact.

The Trump administration and lawmakers are working through the process of establishing the fiscal year 2026 federal budget, which is likely to take several more months. Administration officials have told reporters there would be “no changes” to the programs slated for cuts, The Associated Press reported earlier this month.

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The YMCA of Metro Atlanta serves more than 3,000 children in Head Start. The program offers a way for families, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it, access to child care. It also provides meals, medical and dental screenings, helps families find housing and food access and helps provide parents with job training and other resource referrals.

“Head Start is way more than child care,” said Lauren Koontz, the CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. “It is a bridge to stability, high-quality education and long term opportunity.”

In a recorded message that was played at the Monday event, Sen. Jon Ossoff said Head Start is “under attack.” Sen. Raphael Warnock, Rep. Buddy Carter, Rep. Lucy McBath and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also shared messages of support for the program. They repeatedly mentioned that Head Start has served 40 million families since its inception in 1965.

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Eugenia Lartey, whose 3-year-old son is in Head Start in Atlanta, said the program is “critical” for her family.

“I cannot imagine Head Start not being in the community,” she said. “I need it to do the work that I do (as a mental health counselor). Without it, it would hurt my son and hurt the community.”

Head Start programs in Georgia received more than $280 million in funding in 2025. There are about 22,000 Head Start students across Georgia. Georgia offers universal preschool for 4-year-olds, but the cost of child care for younger children rivals the cost of tuition at a state university.

“We can’t rest on our laurels,” Koontz said Monday. “While we’re thrilled to see that budget be released without cuts to Head Start, we won’t stop fighting until we know it is safe.”

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