Thousands of Kern County kids will have fewer days of Head Start this year. The federal sequester cut 5 percent of the program's budget which means reductions start now.
Head Start serves 2,592 low income kids in Kern County at 43 different facilities. But, this year the number of days kids can attend the school readiness program will be cut by two weeks. So, instead of ending in June this year, the school year will end in May.
"We're working hard to ensure that we are making the least impact to direct services to the families and children that we serve," said Yolanda Gonzales, Director of Child Education and Development Services for Community Action Partnership of Kern or CAPK.
Head Start is run by CAPK, but they have no control over the cuts. The 5 percent cut comes as part of the federal sequester taking $1,225,000 from Kern County's Head Start program budget.
"It's a big difference because they need to be prepared for kindergarten and cutting their education it's not helpful at all," said Yolanda Gonzalez who sends her 4-year-old daughter to Head Start. She says the program has worked wonders on her daughter.
"She has learned so much stuff," said Gonzalez. "She's four years old, but she's reading."
"The kids really learn a lot," said Gloria Rodriguez, a Head Start parent and volunteer. "We have some Spanish only speaking students, but when they come here they learn to speak English also."
Rodriguez works full-time and raises five kids, one who still goes to Head Start. She worries how parents will adjust to the shortened school year.
"My hours are flexible, but there's a lot of parents who are not," said Rodriguez.
"When you have working parents it's a lot of work for them to figure out who is going to take their children for those two weeks," said Gonzales.
While the cuts are certain this year, Kern County's Head Start is hoping it's just a one time thing.
"We are hoping this is one year only," said Gonzales. "We are hoping the sequestration will go back again and get what is the real needs of these families."