The Washtenaw Intermediate School District will be taking the reins of the federally funded Head Start program from Washtenaw County in the 2013-14 school year.
The program has been seeking a new administrative agency for months after the county stopped funding its match -- a process that is up to the federal government to carry out through a request for proposals.
The federal government has chosen the Washtenaw Intermediate School District to be the new administrator of the Head Start preschool program in the 2013-14 school year.
AnnArbor.com file photo
“We’re under negotiations to turn over the assets of the program,” McDaniel said.
Head Start provides a comprehensive preschool program to children from low income families and serves more than 500 children in the county.
After the county cut its $528,000 general fund allocation for the program from its budget in November 2011, the program has been relying on the federal $4 million grant to operate since August 2012.
The decrease in funding meant there were fewer teachers in Head Start classrooms for the 2012-13 school year.
The program is also one that could be at risk for a cut in funding due to federal government budget sequestration. In Michigan, about $20.9 million of Head Start program funding could be on the chopping block.
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.