WISD Recognizes Head Start Awareness Month and Reaffirms Support for Early Learning
Washtenaw County, Mich – In recognition of Head Start Awareness Month, the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD) is reaffirming its commitment to Head Start and the life changing role early childhood education plays in supporting young children, families and communities.
At its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the WISD Board of Education passed a resolution recognizing Head Start Awareness Month and its positive impact in Washtenaw County through both Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Head Start and Early Head Start connect low-income children and families with critical early learning, health, nutrition, and family support that can help build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
Currently, nearly 350 Washtenaw children from birth through age five receive education and support services through the two programs, which include both center-based classroom experiences and home-based services. Across the nation, 1 in 11 Americans has participated in Head Start.
“Head Start is one of the most important programs in the country, and it has served more than 40 million children and families since its inception in 1965,” shared WISD Board President Mary Jane Tramontin. “Head Start provides our youngest learners with critical early learning experiences that can shape their entire lives.”
Washtenaw ISD also recently submitted public comment in support of Head Start in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that could threaten the historic program’s commitment to serving children and families. The district’s comment emphasizes the importance of protecting access to comprehensive, high-quality early childhood services.
“Head Start is an essential and foundational investment in children, families, and our collective future,” stated WISD Superintendent Naomi Norman. “High-quality early childhood education should be accessible to all families. We must continue to protect and invest in programs like Head Start that expand opportunity for every child.”
The federal Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration for Children and Families will next review the tens of thousands of public comments submitted and will issue a Final Rule. A timeline for when the Final Rule will be issued is unknown.