Nearly 600 Head Start students, about 70 teachers to be impacted amid government shutdown

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Tens of thousands of children and families across the U.S. may be impacted by the possible closing of Head Start programs amid the ongoing government shutdown, and dozens of Virginia's students and teachers are now also seeing those effects.

According to the National Head Start Association (NHSA), 592 Virginia students and 72 staff positions in Head Start programs will be impacted by the government shutdown as of Wednesday, Oct. 22.

A release from the association on Oct. 27 reveals that an estimated 140 Head Start programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico will not receive their operational funding if the shutdown continues past Saturday, Oct. 1. These programs reportedly serve more than 65,000 children.

Per NHSA data, Florida, Georgia, Missouri and Ohio may see the most impacts, potentially affecting more than 24,000 children and more than 7,500 staff members.

The impact would "[leave] children without care, teachers without pay, and parents without the ability to work," per NHSA.

“For thousands of families, Head Start is not optional—it is essential," said Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Association in the release. “With each passing day of the shutdown, families are pushed closer to crisis. In fact, on November 1, 65,000 Head Start children in communities across America are at risk of losing the learning, nutrition, health services, and the stability they depend on. Their families may have to forgo days of work and their employers may be affected as well. Congress must act now to end the shutdown and protect these children, families, and communities.”

8News has reached out to Head Start for comment, but has not heard back as of the time of reporting.