Orange County commissioners on Oct. 14 formally proclaimed October 2025 as Head Start Awareness Month and received a detailed performance and policy briefing from Sonia Hill, director of Orange County Head Start.

Hill told the board Orange County Head Start serves 1,536 children in 85 classrooms across 23 sites and that 90 percent of enrolled 4‑year‑olds who transitioned to kindergarten met Florida’s early learning school‑readiness standards last school year. Program‑wide daily attendance averaged above 90 percent, exceeding the federal 85 percent standard. Hill also highlighted program partnerships such as the “Gift of Swimming” initiative and recent awards the county program has won.

Why it matters: Head Start provides early‑childhood education and wraparound services to low‑income families. Commissioners said local support is essential where federal funding is flat and policy changes can affect immigrant families and program eligibility.

What Hill told commissioners: She summarized changes in federal monitoring and priorities that could affect local operations. Orange County Head Start applied for a national wellness grant (Make America Healthy Again) that would fund nutrition and prevention efforts; she said the program is awaiting award decisions. Hill described two federal shifts that have operational impact: guidance restricting some allowable activities and litigation over public‑benefit classifications that could affect immigrant families’ eligibility. She also noted the federal CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) threshold increase, which will require more coaching and classroom supports.

Local funding and staffing: Hill said federal Head Start grant funding has been essentially flat and lacks a cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA), creating pressure on local programs. The county’s general‑fund support, she said, has been used to stabilize staff pay and retain a qualified workforce; local VPK revenues and USDA program funds also help. Hill said the program secured $1.5 million in VPK revenue this year and met a $3 million local match requirement.

Program outcomes and services: Hill said program monitoring shows strong child gains across literacy, math and social‑emotional domains; 96 percent of enrolled children received a dental exam. The program expanded a pilot nutrition/activity effort (We Can Energize) and reported trauma‑informed training for staff and investments in dual‑language supports and classroom coaching.

Commissioners’ reaction: Several commissioners praised Head Start’s results, asked how the county would respond if federal funding fell, and urged continued efforts to diversify local revenue streams, corporate partnerships and technical assistance for mental‑health supports for children and staff. Hill said the county used general funds to bridge gaps when federal grants are flat and that a multiyear, community funding approach is needed if federal support declines.

What’s next: Hill said the program will continue to pursue external grants, strengthen partnerships with local school districts and health providers, improve family engagement, and expand capacity building for classroom instructional support. Commissioners directed staff to continue monitoring federal policy changes and to report any urgent impacts to operations.