NSBA's Letter to U.S. House of Representatives: April 6, 2007
April 6, 2007
Member
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC
Re: The Improving Head Start Act of 2007 (H.R. 1429)
Dear Representative:
On behalf of the 95,000 school board members who serve our nation’s 48 million students in local public school districts, the National School Boards Association (NSBA), would like to express our support for legislation to reauthorize the federal Head Start program and urge you to vote for the bill when it comes to the House floor.
As you know, Head Start provides educational and other comprehensive support services to close to one million low-income preschoolers annually to help prepare them for and increase their success in school. While the program has been a tremendous success since its creation in 1965, NSBA believes it should be updated to incorporate new research regarding children’s cognitive development and better reflect the expectations of local schools. The Improving Head Start Act of 2007 (H.R. 1429), approved on March 14, 2007 by the House Committee on Education and Labor, makes significant improvements that will help to strengthen educational outcomes for students, ensure better coordination with local school districts, improve teacher quality, and increase program eligibility. NSBA is pleased with provisions in the bill that address these critical areas.
Educational Outcomes
NSBA supports legislative provisions that would strengthen the educational component of Head Start by updating program quality standards to include pre-reading, math, language, science, and other cognitive abilities related to academic achievement. Developing these skills early in a child’s life can help to reduce the achievement gaps that exist prior to entering school and are imperative to their future academic success. In addition, the bill would require programs to implement a research-based curriculum that promotes school readiness and is aligned with state early learning standards. NSBA believes this policy will enhance continuity in learning between Head Start, kindergarten, and the early elementary grades, and agrees with the committee that such curricula should be selected at the local level.
Coordination with K-12
Local school boards are pleased that H.R. 1429 requires Head Start grantees to coordinate many aspects of their programs with local education agencies, including the transfer of program records, continuity of curriculum, staff training, and parent outreach activities. NSBA believes the sharing of information will help foster smoother transitions for children between programs and ensure more efficient and effective delivery of services in their communities. NSBA is specifically supportive of language, which allows local school districts to play a greater role in the operation of Head Start programs through memorandum of understanding agreements that encourage stronger partnerships between Head Start programs and local districts.
Teacher Quality
NSBA is encouraged by language in the bill that would improve staff qualifications over time by requiring: a.) 50% of Head Start teachers nationwide to have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education by 2013 and b.) all new Head Start teachers to have an associate’s degree in early childhood education starting in 2009. NSBA recognizes, however, that this is an expensive proposition. It is our hope that Congress will appropriate the funds necessary to accomplish this goal so that participating children will benefit from the highest quality program and have a meaningful opportunity to begin school ready to learn.
Eligibility
NSBA applauds the committee for recognizing the need to expand program eligibility through the authorization of additional program resources and the expansion of participant requirements. School board members appreciate the added flexibility to increase participant eligibility from 100% to 130% of poverty to reflect the varying needs of disadvantaged children and families in their districts. However, NSBA is reminded that even with significant increases in program funding, Head Start is expected to serve only approximately 50% of those eligible. Given the critical role that preschool education programs play in setting a positive trajectory for student success, Congress should place greater priority on providing these valuable programs to children.
On behalf of local school board members across the country, NSBA encourages you to support H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start Act of 2007, and to work with your local school board members to improve and expand quality early education programs in your districts. If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Chrisanne Gayl, Director of Federal Programs, at 703-838-6763; or by e-mail, cgayl@nsba.org.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Resnick
Associate Executive Director