The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and the National Head Start Association (NHSA) released the Year Two Annual Report for the Kids on Campus initiative, highlighting recent growth in Texas. The program expands Head Start classrooms onto community college campuses, giving student parents affordable, convenient child care while providing high‑quality early education for their children.
New Texas partnerships
San Antonio College, a longtime Head Start partner, and Palo Alto College, one of the newest sites, have launched Kids on Campus programs. “When we support parents, we uplift students,” said Francisco Solis, president of San Antonio College. “When families thrive, our community thrives.” Student‑parent Cristina Medina described how the on‑campus Head Start helped her stay in school while caring for her child.
National progress
As of March 2026, the initiative includes 110 community colleges and 130 Head Start programs exploring partnerships across 19 states. Five new collaborations have launched in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland and Texas, with two more in advanced stages in Texas.
Two‑generation strategy
The Kids on Campus model rests on two proven poverty‑reduction strategies: high‑quality early childhood education and increased adult economic mobility through education and workforce pathways. By supporting both generations simultaneously, the program aims to strengthen child development while helping parents achieve long‑term economic success.
Looking ahead
The five‑year initiative targets at least 50 community‑college/Head Start partnerships by 2030. ACCT and NHSA invite additional colleges, Head Start programs and philanthropic supporters to join the effort. For more details, visit kidsoncampus.org/annual-report or contact [email protected].
Original reporting: The Washington Informer — read the source article.
