HEADWAY Act

The HEADWAY Act (S 2832) amends the Head Start Act to improve teacher qualifications in Early Head Start programs. It requires each Early Head Start center to have at least one teacher per classroom with a child development associate credential (or working toward it), and mandates that agencies provide a mentor to guide teachers toward earning this credential. The bill directly affects Early Head Start programs and their teachers by establishing specific training and credentialing requirements for staff providing direct services to children and families. Key provisions include requiring teachers to pursue credentialing, mandating agency-provided mentorship during this process, and updating existing requirements to reflect these new standards.