Walla Walla Sch. Dist.

Emergency Messages as of 4:40 PM, Wed. Jul 1

No information currently posted.

Subscribe to receive FlashAlert messages from Walla Walla Sch. Dist..

Manage my existing Subscription

News Release

Walla Walla Public Schools Receives $1.066 Million Interim Head Start Grant Through December - 07/01/26

WALLA WALLA — Walla Walla Public Schools has been awarded a $1,066,000 interim federal grant to continue operating its Head Start program for 116 low-income children at the Walla Walla Center for Children and Families through December.

The six-month award is part of the Office of Head Start’s effort to prevent service disruptions during the transition period from July 1 through December 31, while longer-term grant applications are being released.

 

The district typically receives about $2 million annually in federal Head Start funding. These grants are renewed on a five-year cycle and include an allowable extension period that ensures programs can continue operating while new applications are under review. This year, the district expected a new five-year competitive application to open, but the application was not released. To allow services to continue, a six-month grant was awarded.

 

District officials say they will continue working closely with the Office of Head Start in the coming months to complete the reapplication process for the next five-year funding cycle.

“We are grateful to receive this critical interim funding, but the timing and communication process with our federal partner has been challenging which has caused unnecessary stress and hardship for the program,” said Director of Fiscal Services Janette Jeffris. “We hope future processes are more predictable so we can better support and communicate with our staff and families.”

 

Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support services at no cost to eligible children from ages three to five.

Jeffris said she will continue to advocate that the district receive full funding for the 2026–2027 school year and prepare for the upcoming five-year federal grant cycle. She noted that delays in processing Head Start renewals have been increasingly common nationwide. 

 

“These are our youngest learners, and these programs help ensure they get a strong start in school,” Jeffris said. “We are proud of our early learning programs and remain committed to supporting families through this work.”

 

###

Walla Walla Public Schools Receives $1.066 Million Interim Head Start Grant Through December - 07/01/26

WALLA WALLA — Walla Walla Public Schools has been awarded a $1,066,000 interim federal grant to continue operating its Head Start program for 116 low-income children at the Walla Walla Center for Children and Families through December.

The six-month award is part of the Office of Head Start’s effort to prevent service disruptions during the transition period from July 1 through December 31, while longer-term grant applications are being released.

 

The district typically receives about $2 million annually in federal Head Start funding. These grants are renewed on a five-year cycle and include an allowable extension period that ensures programs can continue operating while new applications are under review. This year, the district expected a new five-year competitive application to open, but the application was not released. To allow services to continue, a six-month grant was awarded.

 

District officials say they will continue working closely with the Office of Head Start in the coming months to complete the reapplication process for the next five-year funding cycle.

“We are grateful to receive this critical interim funding, but the timing and communication process with our federal partner has been challenging which has caused unnecessary stress and hardship for the program,” said Director of Fiscal Services Janette Jeffris. “We hope future processes are more predictable so we can better support and communicate with our staff and families.”

 

Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support services at no cost to eligible children from ages three to five.

Jeffris said she will continue to advocate that the district receive full funding for the 2026–2027 school year and prepare for the upcoming five-year federal grant cycle. She noted that delays in processing Head Start renewals have been increasingly common nationwide. 

 

“These are our youngest learners, and these programs help ensure they get a strong start in school,” Jeffris said. “We are proud of our early learning programs and remain committed to supporting families through this work.”

 

###