Today, the Oregon Head Start Association (OHSA) sent a letter to Governor Tina Kotek asking her to step in and restore $9.5 million in Head Start funding which was cut by the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC).
During the 2025 session, the Oregon legislature allocated $380.7 million to support Head Start programs with the passage of Senate Bill 5514. Less than three months after the legislature adjourned, DELC cut $9.5 million in funding to Head Start and reallocated it toother programs in the Early Learning Account. These cuts were made behind closed doors with no input from the OHSA, program directors, or the public.
Funds have been reallocated toother programs despite the legislature clearly laying out their priorities in policy option package 806, that accompanied SB 5514.
The agency redirected $9.95 million in funds from Head Start and reallocated funds to the following programs or agency priorities:
Head Start is not asking for new money. We are simply asking DELC and the Governor’s office to reinstate funding allocated by the legislature in policy option package 806 from SB 5514 to Head Start programs. This would prevent drastic state agency cuts to Oregon’s most vulnerable children and their families.
“We were shocked to learn that the state cut funding to Head Start programs,” said Nancy Perin, Executive Director of OHSA. “We’ve faced so many challenges from the federal government this past year, we didn’t expect to face additional cuts by the state.”
After learning of the cuts, the OHSA sent a letter to DELC and requested they reconsider their decision, with the hopes of working through this matter with DELC directly prior to the 2026Legislative Session. Head Start programs provided specific information on the direct impact cuts would have on programs across the state; however, DELC declined to restore the funding.
“These cuts directly impact Head Start’s ability to compete with new state preschool programs and provide services and support to families most in need,” said Charleen Strauch, Executive Director of Lane County Head Start and president of the OHSA. “Over the last 7 years, Head Start slots in Lane County have been replaced by Preschool Promise slots. 400 slots have been cut since 2017. This shouldn’t be happening.
“Funding is critical so we can hire the appropriate staff needed to keep classrooms open to serve existing and future children,” Strauch continued. “We were disappointed to learn that the Department of Early Learning and Care has the ability and authority to redirect money elsewhere and that the agency has chosen not to prioritize Head Start and the children and families we work with. I am not aware of a program that does more to support children and families in Oregon than Head Start.”
OHSA is now calling on Governor Kotek to restore funding to Head Start programs across the state. If the Governor’s office doesn’t step in, the OHSA will make the request for the Oregon State Legislature to reassert its authority and restore the funding that it allocated to Head Start programs with the passage of SB 5514 during the 2026Legislative Session. The Oregon Head Start Association will also push to prevent or limit agency authority in future sessions to ensure that this never happens again.
“This funding is critical,” Perin stated. “Head Start programs provide direct services to the lowest income Oregonians across the state. These services are a safety net for many families. Head Start programs are doing everything they can to keep the lights on and the doors open for families who need our services. It’s unfortunate that the state agency has put us in this difficult position, but the OHSA is committed to working to ensure legislative funding to Head Start programs is restored. This never should have happened and our focus is to protect future programs, children, and families from similar cuts by a state agency.”
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