A Democratic bill with 22 Democratic cosponsors · See all 22 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act of 2026 aims to expand and improve participation in Head Start programs. It modifies eligibility criteria by expanding the definition of public assistance and increasing the family income threshold. The bill also increases authorized appropriations for Head Start. Additionally, it establishes a new grant program for Head Start infrastructure. Finally, the act introduces loan forgiveness for childcare workers and a grant program to supplement employee compensation.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +8
Would children be better off under this?
The bill improves Head Start infrastructure and services, directly benefiting young children.
- Scored +8
Does this make child care cost less?
The bill increases Head Start funding, infrastructure grants, and worker compensation to improve childcare availability and quality.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Increased eligibility and income thresholds provide more low-income families with access to Head Start.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Eligibility: The bill expands the definition of public assistance to include programs like temporary assistance for needy families, supplemental security income, the supplemental nutrition assistance program, special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and State children's health insurance programs. (Section 2)
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Increased Income Threshold: The bill increases the family income threshold to 138 percent. (Section 3)
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Infrastructure Improvements: A new grant program allows Head Start agencies to construct or improve facilities. Priority is given to facilities that may have been built before 1970, have not had major renovations, or have hazardous conditions, such as mold, smoke, lead, or lack of emergency preparedness. (Section 5)
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Loan Forgiveness for Workers: Full-time employees of Head Start or Early Head Start programs who provide care or instruction to children can have the balance of interest, principal, and fees due on eligible Federal Direct Loans canceled after a 3-year period. (Section 6)
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Salary Supplementation: A grant program will be established to supplement the compensation paid by Head Start agencies to their employees, taking into account local cost of living and employee vacancies. (Section 7)
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Loan Benefits: Borrowers are ineligible to receive a reduction of loan obligations under this specific section if they are already receiving benefits through section 428J, 455(m), or 460. (Section 6)
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Funding Limitations for Salaries: The grant program for employee compensation is intended to supplement, not supplant, the compensation already paid by Head Start agencies. (Section 7)
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill improves Head Start infrastructure and services, directly benefiting young children. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increased eligibility and income thresholds provide more low-income families with access to Head Start. Would students be better off under this? — The loan forgiveness provision benefits students working in the childcare sector. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The loan forgiveness program provides economic relief for young childcare workers.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill significantly increases appropriations and provides new grants for Head Start infrastructure and employee salaries. Does this make college cost less? — The bill provides loan forgiveness for full-time Head Start and Early Head Start childcare workers. Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay? — The bill establishes a specific loan cancellation program for eligible childcare workers in Head Start programs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — The bill increases Head Start funding, infrastructure grants, and worker compensation to improve childcare availability and quality. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By expanding Head Start eligibility and income thresholds, the bill helps low-income families access essential services.
- 8/31/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/10/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/27/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 19 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Shontel BrownDemocrat · Ohio
Nikki BudzinskiDemocrat · Illinois
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
Christopher DeluzioDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Cleo FieldsDemocrat · Louisiana
Jesús GarcíaDemocrat · Illinois
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Pablo HernándezDemocrat · Puerto Rico
Jonathan JacksonDemocrat · Illinois
Raja KrishnamoorthiDemocrat · Illinois
Zoe LofgrenDemocrat · California
Greg LandsmanDemocrat · Ohio
Gwen MooreDemocrat · Wisconsin
Doris MatsuiDemocrat · California
Seth MoultonDemocrat · Massachusetts
Kevin MullinDemocrat · California
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Mark PocanDemocrat · Wisconsin
Emily RandallDemocrat · Washington
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan
Frederica WilsonDemocrat · Florida