On June 12, the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Education Reform approved a measure (H.R. 2210) that would give states more control over their individual Head Start programs and would authorize $7 billion in funding for Head Start in FY2004. Bill sponsor and Subcommittee Chair Mike Castle (D-DE) made a last-minute revision to his bill after critics raised concerns that the original bill could turn Head Start into block grant with no federal standards or oversight.
“Their plan would eviscerate quality federal standards and comprehensive services provided through Head Start,” said Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the full committee’s Ranking Member.
Under the revised bill, which passed the subcommittee by an 11-9 party line vote, only eight states would be included in the five-year pilot program; to be considered for participation, states would have to demonstrate that children participating in the program would receive services that are as good or better as those provided under the state’s current Head Start program. Pilot states also would have to match 50 percent of Head Start funding in order to demonstrate the state’s financial commitment to the program.
Democrats objected to the pilot program, which is a key component of the Bush Administration’s Head Start proposal. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) offered an amendment that would have removed the state pilot project from the bill and provided $5 million in annual grants to states to facilitate better coordination with local Head Start centers. The amendment was defeated, 8-10.
“Am I saying Head Start is perfect? No,” said Rep. Woolsey, urging the panel to adopt her amendment. “But turning it over to the states is not any way to improve it.”
Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) offered an amendment that would guarantee continued funding for all local Head Start centers in pilot project states for at least three years. Rep. Castle’s bill would have provided for guaranteed funding for one year. The amendment was adopted, 10-8.
“Head Start has helped thousands of children for their upcoming years at school,” said Rep. Upton. “In order to help Head Start centers service these children, we must make sure that the centers are equipped with the funds to carry out their core programs. We all want to do what’s best for the children. If a handful of states are willing to make a commitment to high standards and funding for early childhood education, then the federal government should allow them to coordinate Head Start with their own early education programs.”
The bill also includes a provision that would require that half of all Head Start teachers earn a bachelor’s degree by 2008, and would require that no new teachers without an associate’s degree be hired three years after the bill’s enactment (see The Source, 6/6/03).
Rep. Castle has said he wants a full committee mark-up before the July 4th recess.
