 |
      |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
The Debate over Head Start
A controversial Bush Administration plan to revamp the federal Head Start program could leave nearly one million at-risk children unready to learn in school since as few as three states have experience providing the full range of comprehensive health, nutrition and educational services required by at-risk children and now provided by Head Start, according to a report issued in April 2003 by the National Head Start Association (NHSA). The NHSA report concludes that far from “improving” Head Start, the Administration’s proposal would make a “dead end” of Head Start in five years or less, due, in part, to the plan’s reliance on budget-deficit crippled states that currently are slashing funds for early childhood development and education.
The vast majority of Massachusetts’ 25 community action agencies (CAAs) have Head Start programs. They are monitoring with great interest and concern the debate in Congress over the Bush Administration’s proposed plan for the longstanding popular, successful early childhood program.
A new Web site, “Save Head Start” (SaveHeadStart.org), was launched in April. It includes links to a number of documents related to the debate over the Administration’s efforts to change the program. These include:
“Head Start Reauthorization,” issued by the Children's Defense Fund “Dismantling Head Start--The Case for Saving America's Most Successful Early Childhood Development Program,” issued by the National Head Start Association “Early Childhood Development,” issued by United Way/Success by 6.
These links can be found at: http://www.saveheadstart.org/understand.html
|
|
|
|
|
