COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 16, 2005

Increase Competition & Oversight in the Head Start Early Childhood Program

Cosponsor H.R. 2123 to Help Protect Children & Taxpayers

Dear Republican Colleague:

Since 2003, local media outlets across the country have uncovered more than a dozen instances of financial abuse and mismanagement in the federal Head Start early childhood program.  As Congress prepares to reform and reauthorize the program, it is imperative that we introduce greater competition and oversight to ensure federal dollars are being spent as intended.

Earlier this year, the independent GAO warned the financial control system in the Head Start program is flawed and failing to protect against the types of financial abuse and mismanagement documented in local communities across the nation.  In its report, the GAO recommended that the federal government take steps to “recompete grants that are currently awarded to poorly performing grantees.”

Earlier this month, we introduced the School Readiness Act of 2005, a bill that would do just that.  The bill, H.R. 2123, would require all Head Start grantees that fail to meet program requirements to compete to continue receiving funding.  This common sense reform will fundamentally shift expectations in the Head Start program by demanding nothing less than the highest quality programs.  For the first time ever, programs that fail to meet expectations will face the possibility of losing federal funding.

The bill will also increase coordination between Head Start and state and local early childhood programs – a major priority for President Bush.  Unlike legislation approved in the House in 2003 that would have increased coordination in only eight states, H.R. 2123 will ensure all 50 states can play a greater role in Head Start.

To sign on as a cosponsor of the School Readiness Act of 2005, or for more information, please contact the Education & the Workforce Committee majority staff at x5-4527.

Sincerely,