Expand support for Head Start
By Senator Dianne Feinstein
Article Launched: 03/10/2008 06:31:36 PM PDT
ONE of the best ways to give a low-income child a jump start in life is through the federal Head Start program.
Head Start provides some of the nation's most impoverished children with essential skills to get them ready for kindergarten, such as being able to count to 10, recite the alphabet, and recognize shapes and colors.
Unfortunately, Head Start has been chronically shortchanged.
For the past six years, funding has lagged below the rate of inflation - resulting in an 11 percent real cut to programs.
That's why some Head Start centers have been forced to cut back on school hours, reduce staff and slash transportation services for students.
In addition, less than half of eligible preschool-age children in California are enrolled in preschool, in part, because parents don't have the money to pay for it.
We must reverse this harmful trend.
After years of cuts and flat funding, President Bush has proposed a slight two-percent increase in funding for Head Start in next year's federal budget. But Congress needs to provide more.
The increase won't cover one year of cost-of-living expenses for Head Start centers. It's not enough to restore six years of budget cuts and flat funding and pay for the program's new requirements - including expanding the numbers of eligible children and increasing teacher education standards.
These new requirements will improve Head Start. But unless they are adequately funded, Head Start centers across the nation will shoulder further financial burden.
Without additional funding, California Head Start centers would be forced to cut thousands of children from their attendance rolls and would have to choose between lowering program standards and closing more than 88 classrooms.
This is unacceptable. It's unfair to these children who desperately need this schooling.
Take the case of Jenny, a four year-old preschooler from Orange County.
Jenny was quiet and withdrawn when she first went to Head Start. Her family was homeless, and without stable housing it was difficult for Jenny and her siblings to make and maintain friends.
Jenny was in Head Start for several months. She had her health screened by program nurses, who determined that she was underweight. Jenny was assigned to a nutritionist and a mental health specialist who worked with her family. She began to open up to her young peers and to teachers, who recalled that Jenny was imaginative and loved to play house.
During her time at Head Start, Jenny was assessed twice. Tests showed that the little girl made gains in everything from reading and math to emotional and physical development.
But Jenny's family was forced to move across town. Jenny had no way to get to Head Start and had to drop out of the program. This is a personal tragedy for Jenny and her family. Unfortunately, Jenny is not alone.
Many of our nation's children enter elementary school without the basic skills necessary to succeed. We know that low-income children disproportionately start school behind their peers - they are less likely to be able to count to 10 or to recite the alphabet.
By the spring of their kindergarten year, Head Start graduates are able to meet national standards in reading and writing.
It's clear that Head Start sets a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning. We need to make sure this important program continues to stay strong. So in addition to increasing funding, we must also offer incentives to attract the best and the brightest to be Head Start teachers.
Many Head Start programs across the country, including in California, are losing qualified teachers to local school districts, in part, because the pay is better. Low pay, combined with rising student debt, makes it increasingly difficult to attract and retain highly qualified Head Start teachers.
Recently enacted comprehensive higher education law forgives federal student loans for individuals who have served in public service for 10 years. This law expands on a proposal that I have been working on for several years, and I am hopeful that it will encourage many more men and women to enter and remain in Head Start classrooms.
We must do all we can to ensure that Head Start continues to provide high quality programs to enhance the lives and help secure the futures of low-income children. They deserve it.
Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is a member of the U.S. Senate.
Contact Senator Feinstein's Washington, D.C. office - let her know that you appreciateher support of Head Start!
Senator Dianne Feinstein
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3841
Fax: (202) 228-3954
TTY/TDD: (202) 224-2501
Click here to Email Sentor Feinstein Today!
Advocacy Works! Please take at this announcement today from the National Association for the Education of Young Children...thanks to all who called and expressed support for increased funding.
NAEYC Children's Champions Update
March 11, 2008
*Federal Budget Update: House and Senate Budget Committees Vote to Increase Funding for Child Care and Head Start
Thanks to all of you who made visits, calls, and sent emails to your senators and representatives asking for increased funding of these two programs (Our "Virtual March" generated over 25,000 calls). Your efforts showed Congress the importance of the Child Care & Development Block Grant and Head Start on children and their families and the need to fund these programs adequately.
On March 5-6, the House and Senate Budget Committees passed resolutions rejecting President Bush's fiscal year 2009 budget request which once again called for cuts and freezes to a large number of domestic programs. Budget resolutions are used to spell out basic priorities for spending, and provide the total funding level for annual appropriations.
The budget resolutions passed by the House and Senate Committees call for increased funding for several vital child care and education programs, including Head Start and the Child Care & Development Block Grant. The breakdown is as follows:
Senate
Child Care & Development Block Grant - provides an increase of $406 million over 2008 levels
Head Start - provides an increase of $300 million over 2008 levels
House
The House's budget resolution, while giving $85.3 billion for education and social services programs, did not specifically break down the increases for the Child Care & Development Block Grant and Head Start, but does mention them in this area as examples of programs for increases.
While still a long way to go to make up for funding losses over the last seven years, the Senate and House budget resolutions do signal a shift in priorities back to children and their families. House and Senate leaders are expecting to debate their budgets this week, will a final budget resolution anticipated in early April.
To learn more about the federal budget process, go to http://capwiz.com/naeyc/admin/mlmcreate/www.naeyc.org/policy and http://www.cbpp.org/3-7-03bud.htm