In the fall of 2003, I met Lucy, a young single mother who had been on her own since age 18, working tirelessly just to get by. Despite the challenges, she held fast to one hope: that her daughter, Marcy, would have the strong head start she never did.

When Lucy learned she could enroll Marcy in a free pre-K Head Start classroom at her neighborhood elementary school in North Philadelphia within walking distance of her apartment, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief. For a parent already stretched to her limits, the opportunity was life-changing. Marcy was assigned to my classroom.

Head Start, a primarily federally funded early childhood program for low-income families serving children ages 3 to 5, is too often treated as a small line item in a budget. But to the families it serves, it is anything but small. Marcy entered my classroom curious and eager, though without many of the early experiences her more advantaged peers take for granted — a reflection of inequity, not parenting. Within months, Marcy was recognizing letters, forming friendships, and engaging in conversations about the world around her. More importantly, she grew confidence — a shift that would support her for years to come.

High-quality early education is one of the strongest returns on investment available to states.

Children like Marcy show us what is possible when early childhood education meets children where they are. Research confirms what educators see every day: Children who attend high-quality early childhood programs show stronger early literacy and math skills, improved social-emotional development, and better long-term educational outcomes. Head Start nurtures learning through play, exploration, and relationships. The approach works.

Yet, according to a 2022 estimate by the National Institute for Early Education Research at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education, only 38 percent of eligible Pennsylvania children — and between 28 and 47 percent in Philadelphia — are enrolled in Head Start, and Early Head Start reached only about 11 percent of eligible infants and toddlers. In PA, as in much of the country, Head Start and Early Head Start remain chronically underfunded. Programs report staffing shortages, long waitlists and classrooms sitting empty — not because children don’t need them, but because programs can’t recruit or retain qualified educators.

That’s why the PA General Assembly must support Governor Shapiro’s proposal to expand funding of the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP) by $2 million dollars, not only to ensure more families enroll their children, but also to raise wages for early childhood educators, so we can support students like Marcy.

Head Start is one of the backbones of PA’s early learning system, yet many such educators earn far less than K–12 teachers with similar credentials. As a result, programs lose staff to higher-paying jobs in retail, health care or food service. By investing specifically in competitive compensation, PA can stabilize the workforce, open more classrooms, and ensure that eligible children — especially in rural and urban high-need areas — can access the early education they deserve.

The impact also extends far beyond the classroom. Head Start families also receive health screenings, mental health resources, nutritional support, and connections to job training and community programs. Head Start parents build leadership skills and join a network of other caregivers navigating similar challenges. So, not only did I watch Marcy grow into a confident young woman, I also watched Lucy evolve alongside her daughter. She gained tools to advocate for her child, accessed resources she didn’t know existed, and, most importantly, began believing in her own potential.

Communities also benefit from these programs, too. Children who start school ready to learn reduce long-term costs in special education, social services, and even the criminal justice system. High-quality early education is one of the strongest returns on investment available to states.

Businesses need families who have reliable childcare. Schools need students arriving ready to learn. Communities need young people who grow into adults with strong foundations. Strengthening the HSSAP is a direct path toward all three, and I had the opportunity to watch these paths develop as I watched Lucy and Marcy grow together.

Today, Marcy is a thriving, compassionate, confident college student working towards her nursing degree — who still carries the spark I saw in her when she was three — and ready to enter the workforce and return on our investment in her Head Start experience. Lucy is now a supervisor working for the United States Postal Service.

If we want better futures for our communities, we must begin where futures are built: early. And that means ensuring every child and every family in PA, regardless of their zip code, receives a true Head Start in life.

Amy Baranowski is a kindergarten teacher in the School District of Philadelphia and previously taught in a Pre-K Head Start program. Amy is a 2025-2026 Teach Plus Pennsylvania Senior Policy Fellow.

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