The Head Start Improvement Act would restructure the federal Head Start program by converting it from a direct federal program into block grants awarded to states and Indian tribes based on their number of low-income children. States and tribes would receive funding to operate prekindergarten education programs for children ages three to five from families below the poverty line, with the bill authorizing $10.6 billion annually through fiscal year 2034. The legislation grants states significant flexibility, allowing them to create voucher systems or education savings accounts that let parents choose private preschools, and it requires states to contribute matching funds equal to 20 percent of their grant. States and tribes must conduct annual self-assessments, report results publicly online, and comply with nondiscrimination requirements, while the Comptroller General must study state implementation approaches and report to Congress by the fourth year after enactment.
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