HEADWAY Act

The HEADWAY Act would modify the Head Start Act to allow certain teachers in Early Head Start programs to work while earning their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Currently, all classroom teachers must have full CDA credentials before teaching. Under this bill, some teachers could teach while in the process of earning their credential, though at least one fully credentialed teacher would still be required in every classroom. The bill would also mandate mentorship programs within Early Head Start to help these teachers progress toward completing their CDA certification. The legislation aims to address staffing challenges in early childhood education by allowing programs to expand their workforce while supporting teachers in obtaining necessary qualifications.