MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, alongside a coalition of 15 other governors from states and territories across the nation, sent a joint letter to members of the U.S. Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, urging them to defend funding for Head Start programs that offer high-quality early learning, health, and family support services to over 800,000 kids nationwide. The coalition’s letter comes as the Trump Administration has threatened to eliminate funding for Head Start programs in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 federal budget and Head Start programs across the state are already dealing with financial challenges from federal funding freezes, loss of regional offices, and delayed funding awards.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF), approximately one in 10 providers in Wisconsin’s 47 rural counties are Head Start programs. Gutting the Head Start program would put over 15,000 kids in Wisconsin at risk of losing their Head Start programming, with over 11,000 of those kids losing access to full-time child care.
For decades, Head Start has been an essential resource for families across the United States, offering free learning and developmental services to kids and families. Promoting family and parent participation, Head Start works to support strong educational and developmental foundations for the more than 800,000 kids enrolled in Head Start programs across the nation, helping ensure all families have access to high-quality early-childhood education and the tools to pursue economic stability.
The governor’s letter comes as the Republican-controlled state budget committee voted to gut Gov. Evers’ proposed 2025-27 Executive Budget that would have worked to lower child care costs and support the critical child care industry, including an investment in the state’s successful Child Care Counts Program, which has been a lifeline for local child care providers, ensuring they can pay their staff and keep their doors open and lights on without raising tuition rates.
DCF’s recent Child Care Counts Stabilization Survey found a quarter of providers across the state are somewhat, very, or extremely likely to close their doors if the Wisconsin State Legislature fails to make critical investments to continue the successful Child Care Counts Program that is set to expire at the end of June. Additionally, if the program ends, costs for infant care are expected to go up, with three-quarters of providers expected to raise weekly tuition rates for care, increasing costs for working families that are already experiencing steep tuition and strained household budgets. Of the 78 percent of providers who reported they will raise tuition for infant care, 21 percent expect to raise weekly rates by at least $25, and 17 percent expect rates to rise.
Further, as announced earlier this week, the second consecutive annual state report shows average cost of infant care increased over 10 percent. According to the 2025 report, Wisconsin families with an infant in center-based care are seeing an average 11 percent increase in monthly tuition prices, while families with an infant in family-based care are seeing an average 10 percent increase.
A copy of the governor’s letter to the U.S. Senate and House Committees on Appropriations is available here, and a transcript of the letter is available below:
Dear Chair Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, Chair Collins, and Ranking Member Murray:
As Governors, we write to voice our strong support for the Head Start program and to urge you to reject proposals to eliminate or reduce its funding in the FY26 federal budget.
Since its creation in 1965, Head Start has helped millions of children reach their full potential by providing one of the highest standards of quality in early learning, health, and family support services across the nation. Today, the program serves more than 800,000 of the nation’s most at-risk children, preparing them to succeed in school and giving their families the tools to pursue work, education, and economic stability.
Research consistently shows that access to quality early learning improves school readiness, health outcomes, and long-term success for children in low-income families. Head Start is more than preschool—it is a critical investment in America’s future workforce and economy.
The downstream effects of any reduction or elimination of Head Start funding would be significant and damaging. States and territories simply cannot absorb the impact. Cuts to Head Start would strain child care, workforce, health, human services, and child safety systems, and force millions of parents to choose between staying employed or leaving the workforce to care for their children—at a time when maintaining a strong labor market is essential to our economic growth.
We urge you to fully fund Head Start in FY26 and take all necessary steps to eliminate any potential funding disruptions, ensuring continued access to these vital services for the children and families who rely on them.
Thank you for your leadership and consideration.
An online version of this release is available here.
