East Baton Rouge Head Start Program Faces Permanent Closure Without Federal Grant

BATON ROUGE, La. — The East Baton Rouge Head Start program, a cornerstone of early childhood education in the parish for over four decades, is on the brink of shutting down due to stalled federal funding. City officials say the program will end operations by June 30 if a critical federal grant is not awarded in time.

The program, which currently serves more than 600 children across multiple sites, is fully dependent on federal grant funding administered through the Office of Head Start. City leaders expected notification of the grant renewal by March 30. As of Wednesday night’s Metro Council meeting, no communication has been received from the federal government.

“We are now just weeks away from the end of the fiscal year, and there has been complete silence from Washington,” a representative from the Edwards administration told the council. “This is not a budgeting issue at the local level—this is a federal stalemate. If this grant doesn’t come through, the program cannot continue.”

Established more than 40 years ago, the Head Start program in East Baton Rouge Parish provides comprehensive early learning services for children from low-income families, including instruction, meals, health screenings and family support. The program also serves as a major employer, with hundreds of staff members—including teachers, aides, and support personnel—who would be directly impacted by a shutdown.

Kanika Coates, a center supervisor who manages a site with more than 25 students, described the mood among staff as increasingly anxious.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty,” Coates said. “Many of our employees are parents themselves. They’re wondering how they’ll make ends meet. They’re wondering what happens to these kids—kids we’ve watched grow and develop in our classrooms. It’s devastating to think it could all be gone in a matter of weeks.”

During the council meeting, city officials emphasized that contingency plans are being developed. If the grant is not awarded, every enrolled child will be offered placement in alternative early education programs within the parish. The city also intends to provide transition support for affected employees, though specific details have not yet been released.

“We are committed to ensuring that no child is left without a learning environment and no staff member is left without support,” the administration said in a statement. “But it does not replace the continuity and quality of care that Head Start provides.”

Councilman Daryl Hurst urged the administration to hold a town hall meeting to communicate directly with program staff and families. Officials confirmed that a meeting will take place within the next two weeks to offer updates, answer questions and prepare for all possible outcomes.

The potential closure of the Head Start program would represent a major disruption to early education services in East Baton Rouge Parish. For many families, Head Start is the only accessible option for structured learning and developmental support for their young children.

City officials are calling on federal agencies to expedite the review and decision-making process for the grant. Without immediate action, one of the parish’s longest-standing education programs may come to an abrupt and damaging end.

“There is no replacement for what Head Start does,” Coates said. “It’s more than just daycare. It’s education. It’s stability. It’s the start of a better future for these children.”