Public Transit Accessibility (and Burden) of Head Start Centers

From the base of the Grand Canyon, to the frontier of Alaska, Head Start programs nationwide serve nearly a million of our nation’s most vulnerable children and families each year. But how accessible are Head Start centers? In partnership with the Civic Mapping Initiative, NHSA found that only 40% of Head Start locations are within walking distance of a fixed route transit stop. An additional 30% are in areas served by public transit, yet their closest stops are beyond walking distance for a toddler. These 30% of centers mean hundreds of opportunities to shift stops by less than half a mile and meaningfully impact childcare access for low-income families. The American Public Transportation Association and the National Head Start Association held a briefing about how transit agencies and Head Start centers can work together to best serve low-income families in their communities. Registrants learned more about this research, how they can engage with local Head Start operators and/or transit agencies, and ways to participate in the national launch of this map in October 2023.