Groundwork Ohio Roadshow 2026: Fayette County
Groundwork Ohio’s Roadshow visited Fayette County on October 1, where parents, educators, service providers, and community leaders shared a clear message: strong early childhood programs can change the trajectory of a child and family, but too many families still face barriers to accessing the support they need.
Groundwork Ohio partnered with the Community Action Commission of Fayette County for the stop. The day included a visit to the Community Action Commission’s Head Start program in Washington Court House and a conversation with Head Start parents, staff, education leaders, and community partners.
Seeing Head Start’s Impact Up Close
During the visit, the Groundwork team toured Head Start classrooms and saw children learning, playing, and exploring—including an impressive outdoor space where children and families help tend gardens.
But some of the most powerful moments came afterward, when parents shared what Head Start has meant to their families.
Fayette County parent Jen described turning to Head Start after an unexpected breast cancer diagnosis left her family trying to manage medical appointments, treatment, child care, and everyday expenses. Head Start provided stability for her younger children during an extraordinarily difficult period.
“Head Start just kind of came in and they took care of everything,” she shared.
Her son entered kindergarten after attending Head Start knowing his letters, numbers, and how to spell his full name.
“I feel like without Head Start, I’m not sure what that would look like for them today.”
Other parents described Head Start as much more than preschool. They talked about family partners who helped them navigate crises, teachers who responded to children’s individual academic and behavioral needs, and a community that continued supporting parents long after their children left the program.
One former parent, reflecting on her journey through recovery and parenting, described the program this way:
“They weren’t there just for the kids. They were there for me as well.”
Quality Preschool Builds Kindergarten Readiness
Local education leaders reinforced what families shared.
Miami Trace Elementary Principal Eric Tattersall told the group that children who arrive at school after experiencing quality preschool are better prepared academically and socially.
“A child that has exposure to preschool and quality education, which Head Start provides, is leaps and bounds ahead of a student that just comes in with no experience.”
But community leaders said Fayette County simply cannot reach enough children with quality early learning opportunities. One participant estimated that Head Start currently serves only about 26% of children entering kindergarten and described a local effort to improve kindergarten readiness by bringing community partners together.
Families Face Barriers Even When Programs Have Space
One theme heard repeatedly during the Roadshow stop was that having a preschool seat available does not necessarily mean a child can access it.
Transportation is a significant challenge. Head Start leaders described losing children from the program because families could not get them there, while bus driver shortages have made it difficult to serve families across a rural county.
Affordability creates another barrier. Participants described families who earn too much to qualify for certain assistance but still cannot afford child care or preschool. Fayette County also has limited options for families seeking publicly funded child care.
As one education leader put it, families should not have to choose between basic necessities and early education:
“How can we just find a way to make it affordable so it’s not an option between, do I buy groceries or do I pay rent, or do I send my kid to preschool? … It shouldn’t be a luxury, it should be available.”
The conversation also highlighted broader pressures on families, including rising housing costs, limited transportation, behavioral health needs, and gaps in maternal health services. Participants noted that Fayette County does not have a birthing hospital, requiring expectant families to travel outside the county for delivery and some maternity care.
Speaking Up for Head Start
The visit came at an important moment for Head Start nationally. Groundwork Ohio shared its Speak Up for Head Start advocacy effort with participants, encouraging families and community members to submit public comments in response to proposed federal changes that could affect classroom ratios, health and developmental screenings, services for children with disabilities, family input, eligibility requirements, and other program standards.
The stories shared in Fayette County demonstrated why those standards matter. Families described a program that did more than prepare their children for kindergarten—it helped parents navigate cancer, recovery, family changes, financial hardship, and their own growth as parents.
Those experiences are exactly why Groundwork Ohio is traveling the state.
Throughout the 2026 Roadshow, we are listening to families and communities about what is working, where gaps remain, and what Ohio’s next governor and General Assembly need to know about the experiences of young children and families. In Fayette County, the message was unmistakable: when communities invest in children early—and support the whole family—the impact can last far beyond the preschool years.
Learn More
Explore Groundwork Ohio’s county fact sheets to learn more about the data behind this Roadshow stop.
