House Reauthorizes Head Start Program - Women's Congressional Policy Institute

On May 2, the House passed, 365-48, legislation (H.R. 1429) to reauthorize the Head Start program, the first time since 1998. The House Education and Labor Committee approved the bill on March 14 (see The Source, 3/16/07. Prior to the vote on H.R. 1429, Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) offered a motion to recommit the bill with instructions to include a provision to allow faith-based organizations to hire employees based on religious preference. The motion failed, 195-222.

Sponsored by Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI), H.R. 1429 would increase funding levels to $7.4 billion for FY2008 and such sums as are necessary through FY2012. The measure also would require better coordination between Head Start programs and local education agencies to ensure the continuity of education from kindergarten through grade 12; mandate that within two years of enactment, all Head Start classroom teachers have at least an associate’s degree in early childhood education; and include homeless children, foster care children, and limited English proficient children in the biennial reports on the status of children in the program.

During consideration of H.R. 1429, the House approved by voice vote:

an amendment by Rep. Jon Porter (R-NV) to require Head Start programs to conduct criminal background checks before hiring individuals;
an amendment by Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) to define “inclusive classrooms” to mean those that include both children with and without disabilities and provide funds to examine the impact of those services on children with and without disabilities; and
an amendment by Reps. Dave Space (D-OH), Phil Hare (D-IL), and Peter Welch (D-VT) to provide technical assistance to rural Head Start programs for the purposes of professional development, parent involvement, home visits, and health screening.The House also approved:
an amendment by Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) to provide loan forgiveness for Head Start and Early Head Start teachers who have earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, 312-107;
an amendment by Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) to require training and technical assistance from entities with expertise in infant and toddler development in the Early Head Start program, 372-50; and
an amendment by Reps. Heath Shuler (D-NC), Brad Ellsworth (D-IN), and Dave Loebsack (D-IA) to include congressional findings on the history and importance of faith-based organizations to the Head Start program, 229-195.The House rejected:
an amendment by Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) to establish an eight-state demonstration program for states to coordinate their Head Start programs with state-run early childhood development programs, 165-254;
an amendment by Rep. John Mica (R-FL) to require that 50 percent of Head Start teachers nationwide have at least a bachelor’s degree by 2011, 137-286; and
an amendment by Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL) to create a new system for the review of Head Start grant applications, 161-262.Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) said of the need to close the school readiness gap that persists among Head Start students, “I support the legislation before us today which will reauthorize the Head Start program…the Improving Head Start Act strengthens Head Start’s academic focus while maintaining its comprehensive nature that is imperative to its success. The bill improves the academic focus of the program by establishing new quality standards that ensure enrolled children develop and demonstrate language skills; pre-reading knowledge, including an interest in, and appreciation of, books, reading and writing; pre-mathematics knowledge, such as recognition of numbers and counting; cognitive abilities related to academic achievement; and social development important for environments constructive for child development, early learning and school success.”
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) said, “[W]e must ensure that no matter where a child comes from or what his or her background is, that child has an equal opportunity to succeed in school and in life. That begins with quality early childhood education, and that is why we need to and must reauthorize Head Start. This bill will allow 10,000 more children to benefit from the Head Start program. But many, many more children are eligible for Head Start, and those children will continue to be left behind. A real investment in our children would ensure that every single child who is eligible has access to this very successful program. Without full funding, some children continue to start elementary school far behind their peers…Mr. Chairman, children are 25 percent of our population. They are 100 percent of our future. We must support and expand Head Start for the best possible beginning of their lives.”