MARC Head Start updates

MARC serves as the grantee for Head Start in Clay, Platte and Jackson counties, supporting 17 partner sites, over 400 teachers and 2,300 children and families. Our current grant year ends on Oct. 31 and, unfortunately, we have not yet received the Notice of Award for the upcoming grant cycle beginning Nov. 1 due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Without this official notification, MARC is unable to incur any expenses for Head Start services after Oct. 31 unless there is certainty of reimbursement. We face the possibility of having to stop reimbursement payments to our Head Start direct service providers unless the situation is resolved quickly. This could have a profound effect on our partner agencies, their staff, and the children and families that they serve.

MARC staff are actively working with our congressional delegation and national, regional, and state Head Start associations. In the meantime, we are asking MARC Head Start sites to prepare contingency plans should the shutdown continue past Oct. 31.

Oct. 24, 2025

MARC Head Start has been working this week with our 17 direct service providers to determine if they are able to stay open past Nov. 1, if the federal government shutdown continues. We have learned that all 17 sites plan to take on significant financial risk to continue serving Head Start families for a limited period of time, even though the providers are not assured that they will be reimbursed retroactively when the new grant starts.

“We are elated to learn that all MARC Head Start sites have opted to stay open past Nov. 1, despite the financial risk. This speaks to their deep commitment to Head Start children, families and staff,” said Kasey Lawson, director of MARC Head Start. “All of our programs dug deep to find ways to continue their critical work — serving children and families. While this is great news, it’s important to recognize that some programs will be able to stay open longer than others, and we may be facing the possibility of closing facilities in the very near future should the shutdown continue.”
 

Oct. 20, 2025

MARC Head Start Director Kasey Lawson and other staff have been in frequent communication with the 17 MARC Head Start direct service providers. After receiving official notice about the grant last week, direct service providers have been working to determine if they can stay open for a limited period of time despite the risk of no reimbursement. Some providers have told MARC they made the decision with their leadership to take the risk and remain open for now. However, based on ongoing discussions with program directors, some locations may not be able to do that. MARC will share information about the status of Head Start programs, as it’s finalized.  

“Because of their commitment to Head Start, our direct service providers are working really hard to find ways to continue serving families and children,” said Lawson. “Our goal is to create as little disruption as possible for the students and families we serve.”

Statement from Head Start director

Oct. 16, 2025

"MARC staff are actively working with the congressional delegation and regional, state and national Head Start associations on this issue," said Kasey Lawson, director of MARC's Head Start program. "Temporarily closing Head Start sites would cause significant hardship for more than 2,300 families in the metro. Head Start offers more than just comprehensive education — we also provide children with mental health, disabilities, health and nutrition services."

As part of MARC's Department of Early Learning, MARC Head Start is the Head Start and Early Head Start grantee for Clay, Jackson and Platte counties in Missouri that serves 2,400 infants, toddlers and preschoolers. MARC Head Start is funded by federal, state, and private grants as well as local contributions.

The MARC Head Start mission is to advance young children’s development and learning through effective program administration, community collaboration and family engagement.

MARC Head Start operates through a network of providers and offers oversight and support for the delivery of Head Start and Early Head Start services through 17 early childhood agencies throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area.