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

September 22, 2005 

Give Parents a More Effective Role in Head Start

OPPOSE THE SOUDER AMENDMENT THAT COMPLICATES HEAD START GOVERNANCE, WEAKENS ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURE 

Dear Colleague:

Parents have always played a central role in the Head Start early childhood program, from serving as teachers and classroom volunteers to participating in program oversight and governance.  Parental involvement is vital to children’s development and success, and that’s why we’re working to improve opportunities for parents to be effective participants in the Head Start program.

Among the most critical components of parental involvement in Head Start are parent policy councils, which are affiliated with Head Start program boards.  To streamline the governance structure, the School Readiness Act (H.R. 2123) requires local Head Start boards to work in consultation with parent policy councils, which will be a subset of the board.

Dr. Edward Zigler, widely-credited as the “Father of Head Start,” recently wrote a letter praising the School Readiness Act’s approach to parental involvement and parent policy councils.

“I created and implemented the policy councils in the early 1970s.  The time was past due to take a fresh look at the governance issue.  In fact, I very much like that the House bill keeps in place the policy council with the role I had in mind for it, while putting above it a board of directors, with what I see to be some good requirements for membership on this board.  I like the synergism that you have built in between the board and the policy council,” said Zigler’s letter.

H.R. 2123 will streamline program governance and establish a more clearly defined accountability structure, with parent policy councils as a subset of the board.  The two will work in consultation, allowing parents to be active participants in the Head Start program.

We urge you to oppose the unnecessary Souder amendment, which would only complicate Head Start governance by adding an additional layer of decision-making authority and bureaucracy.  The School Readiness Act ensures effective parental involvement, as envisioned by the Father of Head Start.  For further information on this issue, please contact the Education & the Workforce Committee majority staff at 5-4527.

Sincerely,