Head Start program could be cut

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) - Not only will sequestration cuts hamper the nation's military, but they are set to affect students attending Head Start programs.

Head Start is a federally-funded pre-school education program for low-income children up to 5 years old. Sequestration cuts could include reduced funding, students and staff for the program.

Photos: Head Start in Newport News

"It's going to mean a large cut," Head Start Director Nancy Null said. "For our particular program serving the Peninsula and Southside would would lose 141 slots. We would lose 30 jobs."

This amounts to 10 percent of the students and employees.

"And how would you choose who would not receive a pre-school education? How would you choose which children to cut, which staff to cut? Our staff and our families are very important to us and it would be a hard, hard move," Null said.

Marie Cooper's son attends the program.

"I was scared because I didn't know if this could happen to my child or not," Cooper said. "I'm really big on education and I'm glad my child is in early Head Start. If he wasn't, it wouldn't be possible for him to get an education."

Statewide sequestration could slash $9 million from Head Start, cut 300 jobs and eliminate close to 1,450 slots for students.