Interconnection Between Head Start and State Pre-K Systems

A) Data on the interconnection between Head Start and state pre-K systems

1. Dual enrollment in state-funded pre-K and Head Start nationally

80 percent of states with a pre-K program — 36 of 45 — report dual enrollment in state-funded pre-K and Head Start, together serving over 77,100 children nationally.

Source: Friedman-Krauss, A. H., Barnett, W. S., Hodges, K. S., Garver, K. A., Weisenfeld, G. G., Duer, J. K., & Siegel, J. A. (2026). Appendix A: State survey data 2024–2025 (Table 10). In The state of preschool 2025: State preschool yearbook. National Institute for Early Education Research.
 

2. Number of states where state pre-K standards align with the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) or where HSPPS act as the state pre-K standards

Additionally, Early Learning and Development Standards in 93 percent of states (42 of 45) with a pre-K program align with the HSPPS and National Goals Panel report. Oregon, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania have integrated or wholly adopted the HSPPS into at least one of their state pre-K initiative requirements. 

Source: Friedman-Krauss, A. H., Barnett, W. S., Hodges, K. S., Garver, K. A., Weisenfeld, G. G., Duer, J. K., & Siegel, J. A. (2026). Appendix A: State survey data 2024–2025 (Tables X). In The state of preschool 2025: State preschool yearbook. National Institute for Early Education Research.
 

3. Number and proportion of state pre-K budgets funded by Head Start nationally

13 out of the 45 states with a pre-k program (29%) blended Head Start funding into their state pre-K initiatives. This may undercount true numbers as states cannot always report federal and local funding that is used for state pre-K. In some states, Head Start funding comprises a significant portion of state pre-K budgets. In West Virginia, for example, Head Start funding accounts for 22% of the state pre-K budget — nearly 1 in every 5 dollars. In Kentucky, it's 14%, or roughly 1 in every 7. 

Source: Friedman-Krauss, A. H., Barnett, W. S., Hodges, K. S., Garver, K. A., Weisenfeld, G. G., Duer, J. K., & Siegel, J. A. (2026). Appendix A: State survey data 2024–2025 (Table 88B). In The state of preschool 2025: State preschool yearbook. National Institute for Early Education Research.

B) State-by-state level data on interconnection between Head Start and state pre-K systems

Link: https://nieer.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/AppendixA_2025.pdf
 

1. Enrollment in both state-funded pre-K and Head Start (Table 9)
2. Number of children dually enrolled in state pre-K and Head Start (Table 10)
3. State Supplements to Head Start and Early Head Start (Table 11)
4. Use of state supplemental Head Start and Early Head Start funding (Table 12)
5. State supplemental funding for Head Start and/or Early Head Start (Table 15)
6. Maximum preschool class size (Table 34)
7. Staff to child ratio requirement in preschool (Table 35)
8. State Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) (Table 40)
9. State Early Learning And Development Standards (ELDS) URL (Table 41)
10. Fiscal Year 2025 Federal Funding Sources and Amounts for Preschool (Table 88B)
     

Source: Friedman-Krauss, A. H., Barnett, W. S., Hodges, K. S., Garver, K. A., Weisenfeld, G. G., Duer, J. K., & Siegel, J. A. (2026). Appendix A: State survey data 2024–2025 [Data appendix]. In The state of preschool 2025: State preschool yearbook. National Institute for Early Education Research. https://nieer.org/yearbook/2025/survey-data

C) National and state-by-state level data on school readiness of 3, 4, and 5 year olds 
 

Link: https://www.childtrends.org/publications/healthy-ready-learn-national-state-data-3-4-5-year-olds
 

1. 64% of 3 and 4 year-olds in the United States are developmentally track for kindergarten
2. State-by-state level data can be found at the same link 
    

Source: Paschall, K., Reddington, E., Bredeson, M., Moore, K. A., & Rochester, S. E. (2026, July 9). Healthy and ready to learn: National and state data on 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds. Child Trends. https://www.childtrends.org/publications/healthy-ready-learn-national-state-data-3-4-5-year-olds