7/1/2003 -- A Head Start reauthorization bill passed by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce June 19 would create a pilot program allowing up to eight states to combine federal Head Start funds with funding for state and local early education programs.
The Bush Administration had proposed turning Head Start into a block grant program to the states, while Head Start advocates and some members of Congress wanted to retain the program's current structure.
The School Readiness Act (H.R.2210), sponsored by Rep. Michael Castle (R-Del.), also strengthens the program's focus on literacy and calls for Head Start teachers to be better educated.
The bill addresses many of the recommendations offered by NSBA to improve the Head Start program. NSBA had sent a letter to members of the Education Reform Subcommittee June 11 urging them to support increased funding, a stronger educational component, and higher standards for Head Start teachers.
Among the key points in the House bill:
• Half of all Head Start teachers would need to have at least a four-year college degree by 2008. All new teachers would have to have or be working on an associate degree.
• Head Start agencies would have to establish goals for improving school readiness.
Current education performance measures, such as the requirement that children must identify 10 letters of the alphabet, would be eliminated. Instead, there would be more results-based measures relating to children's progress in school readiness.
• Programs run by religious organizations would be allowed to consider religion when hiring Head Start teachers, thus exempting these groups from nondiscrimination in employment requirements.
The bill does not include the Administration proposal to transfer the program from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Education Department.
NSBA did not oppose distributing Head Start money through the states as long as funding for local districts would not be reduced.
The bill prohibits states participating in the five-year pilot program from reducing Head Start funding for the first three years.
To be eligible for the program, states must match the Head Start funds they receive from the federal government with state funds equaling 50 percent of their federal Head Start allotment.
These states also would be required to have high standards for all Head Start-related services to ensure that children continue to receive services that are at least as good as the services states currently provide to Head Start children.
The bill passed by the committee would authorize $6.8 billion, an increase of $203 million.
During the subcommittee mark-up, several amendments proposed by Democrats to increase funding for the program and expand the number of eligible children were defeated.
The National Head Start Association (NHSA) and other advocates want the program to retain its focus on providing comprehensive services for poor children, such as health and dental services, social development, family involvement, and nutrition services, as well as pre-academic skills.
They complain that even a limited block grant approach would eliminate federal oversight and reduce the program's focus on comprehensive services.
Rep. George Miller, senior Democrat on the subcommittee, agrees with the Head Start advocates, calling the bill passed by the committee a "disaster for Head Start."
NHSA filed suit against the Bush Administration June 11 charging that the administration was violating Head Start providers' First Amendment free speech rights by trying to stop them from speaking out against its legislative proposal.
The suit refers to a letter from HHS warning that the federal Hatch Act makes it illegal for Head Start providers to use federal funding for political activities.