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Tacoma parents, Head Start policy council praise program; board approves $7.39 million Head Start continuation grant
Summary
Parents on the Head Start policy council described how the program supports children and families; the board unanimously approved the district’s 2025–26 Head Start continuation grant totaling $7,391,072.
Parents and program representatives described the Head Start program’s community impact Thursday as the board heard a parent’s account of how Head Start supported her family, then voted to approve the district’s Head Start continuation grant for 2025–26.
Michelle, a Head Start staff member, introduced Kat Michaels as the policy council chair and said the council represents classroom parents and reviews policies, budgets and continuous improvement work. Kat Michaels told the board she became involved after seeing a flyer and later was elected policy council chair; she described the program’s positive effects on her grandson and on immigrant families in her classroom.
“I just wanted to make sure that this opportunity is available, not just for Grayson, but for every child in Tacoma,” Kat Michaels said, describing the program’s role in family and community connection. She told the board she regretted that her grandson had only one year of Head Start and urged better outreach to families so children can access two years where eligible.
Why it matters: Head Start and Early Childhood programs provide federally funded early learning supports for children from low-income families; the board’s approval keeps federal Head Start funding in place for district programs in 2025–26.
Later in the meeting the assistant superintendent of teaching and learning recommended board approval of the Head Start continuation grant application. The grant request was for $7,391,072 with the funding source listed as Head Start. A board member moved to adopt item 13.1 and another seconded; the board approved the application by voice vote.
The policy council presentation and parent remarks emphasized outreach and parent representation: Michelle said each classroom has a representative and an alternate and the council reviews policies and spending; Kat Michaels described how Head Start staff and families worked with a family from Afghanistan learning basic greetings and cultural exchange during drop-off, illustrating the program’s role in integrating new families.
The board did not debate the grant amount at length in public comment; the formal motion and voice vote closed the agenda item. The district will proceed with the continuation grant as presented in the application.
