September 20, 2005

Strengthen the Head Start Early Childhood Program by Closing the School Readiness Gap

VOTE YES ON THE SCHOOL READINESS ACT (H.R. 2123)

Dear Colleague

On Thursday, the House will consider the School Readiness Act (H.R. 2123), a bill to reform and strengthen the Head Start early childhood program.  The bill was approved unanimously by the Education & the Workforce Committee on May 18, 2005.  Since 1965, Head Start has provided comprehensive early childhood services to low-income preschool children and their families.  These services are intended to prepare children to enter kindergarten and to improve the conditions necessary for their success in school and life. 

Head Start is a good program that is capable of achieving even greater results.  While the resources to fund Head Start are significant, more work is needed to achieve the ultimate program goal of closing the readiness gap between Head Start children and their more advantaged peers when they enter kindergarten.  Studies indicate that children enrolled in Head Start make some progress, but still lag behind national norms in all aspects of school readiness. 

Data from the Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) and the first year findings of the Head Start Impact study suggest that Head Start participants show progress on some measures after completing a year in Head Start, but not in others, and on balance remain below the national average.  The data indicate that in some cases Head Start children are entering kindergarten without the knowledge and skills that are good predictors of later school success.

That’s why the School Readiness Act is so important.  This measure will strengthen the academic components of Head Start while preserving the comprehensive services such as health and nutrition the program already provides to needy children.  Greater emphasis will also be placed on the importance of Head Start teachers, who are currently being hurt by a system that allows millions of dollars to be used for questionable expenditures instead of improving teacher salaries and classroom conditions. 

The School Readiness Act will strengthen and improve the Head Start program and the valuable services it provides for nearly one million disadvantaged children.  Please join us in creating a better Head Start program.  For more information on the School Readiness Act, visit the Education & the Workforce Committee website at http://edworkforce.house.gov/issues/109th/education/headstart/headstart.htm or contact the Committee majority staff at x5-4527.

Sincerely,