Community Colleges, Head Start Partner to Expand Affordable Child Care Access

• Placing Head Start early learning programs on community college campuses has the potential to support both young children and their college-going parents, said the National Head Start Association and the Association of Community College Trustees, which have partnered on technical assistance efforts for expanded programing.

• Called “Kids on Campus,” the five-year project launched this week with a user guide to help community colleges and Head Start programs connect, negotiate and launch successful partnerships.

• Locating Head Start programs on community college campuses could help overcome current barriers to affordable and quality early learning centers for children from low-income families, said NHSA and ACCT. However, they warned that financial and logistical issues will need to be addressed.