Federal grant freeze briefly threatened Oregon Head Start programs; state and lawmakers stepped in

At an informational meeting of the Oregon House Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services on May 8, Head Start leaders told lawmakers a temporary freeze of federal Head Start grant payments earlier this year nearly forced some programs to close.

"When our grants were frozen, unable to be able to access fundings," Oregon Head Start President Charlene Stroud said, describing a moment in Washington, D.C., when directors learned they could not access operating dollars. "Directors [were] calling up their sites and closing down sites, talking about laying off people." (Charlene Stroud, Executive Director, Head Start of Lane County; Oregon Head Start president.)

The threat hit programs unevenly. Catherine Clayton, executive director of Southern Oregon Head Start, said a delay…