Head Start

Reauthorization and more funding sought for Head Start

Head Start’s comprehensive child development programs for children from birth to age 5, pregnant women and their families received a strong endorsement during CSBA’s annual Federal Issues Council meetings in March. Council members raised the issue in discussions at the U.S. Department of Education, with congressional representatives and staffers, at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Washington office and with National Head Start Association leaders.
Congress is considering two proposals to reauthorize Head Start this year: House bill 1429 and Senate bill 556. The latter would provide an increase of over $1 billion from current funding levels over the next four years nationwide. New House and Senate legislation would also affect teacher education. The Senate bill would increase education levels but change them from requirements to goals—specifically, that 50 percent of Head Start teachers should have a bachelor’s degree by 2013 and 100 percent would have at least an associate degree by 2012. The House measure would require that 50 percent of teachers nationwide in center-based programs have a bachelor’s degree by 2013 and that all new Head Start teachers have an associate, bachelor’s or advanced degree within three years from the date of hire.

In a meeting with Leighann Lenti, deputy director in Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Washington office, Immediate Past President Luan B. Rivera stressed CSBA’s concerns about the bills. She told the governor’s representative that the bills are an improvement over past proposals, but she expressed a need for increased funding and teacher training, among other points. Rivera indicated the governor’s representative was supportive. Rivera and other FIC members also met with Sarah Greene, president and CEO of the National Head Start Association, and Ted Waters, NHSA’s legal counsel.

The NHSA representatives updated the visiting group on a number of issues:
• Head Start serves nearly 900,000 children, but that number reflects only half of those who are eligible.
• Last November’s elections have resulted in a significant turnaround in congressional attitudes and approaches toward Head Start initiatives.
• Head Start is seeking to limit sanctions for noncompliance on teacher degree goals and wants pending legislation to include more funding for teacher salaries.
At issue: President Bush’s 2008 budget proposal includes more cuts in funding for Head Start. As a result, 30,000 children could be cut from the rolls, or the program could be forced to make cuts to services—such as qualified teaching staffs, educational activities and parent education—with proven success in helping children reach kindergarten better prepared to succeed.
California’s Head Start program is the largest in the nation. In 2006, over 106,650 children here were served by Head Start, with a program budget of over $812 million. The state has approximately 2.6 million children under age 5, and nearly 500,000 live in poverty.

CSBA’s position:
• Congress must not make changes to the program that will undermine the progress that Head Start has made since its inception in 1965.
• The Head Start program has made great strides toward closing the achievement gap and providing cost savings to school districts by promoting school readiness, more positive student behavior, reduced special education placement and reduced grade retention and dropout rates.
• Only changes that enhance the program, such as greater coordination with local school districts to ensure alignment with K-12 academic standards, should be considered.
What California needs:
• Continued comprehensive health, nutritional and parental services under Head Start.
• Funding for fiscal year 2008 that covers the cost-of-living adjustment necessary to ensure that no children are denied services.
• Developmentally appropriate preschool programs and early educational opportunities that focus on early literacy and numeracy skills.