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the problem
President Bush’s 2007 budget provides no new funding for Head Start, and as a result of inflation, next year16,976 fewer three and four year olds will be able to participate and start kindergarten ready to learn, and by 2011, as many as 108,400 fewer young children will be able to participate in Head Start.
This comes at a time when Head Start is already massively underfunded. Compared to what Congress has already authorized for Head Start, the President's budget requests nearly $27 billion less than it should and 3.5 million children who could participate in Head Start are prevented from doing so.
Quality pre-K education has a direct impact on later academic success. However, the quality of most preschool programs is too low to promote later academic success. Quality is directly linked to the level of training and compensation of staff. Staff quality is negatively affected by very low salaries. Despite the very low salaries paid to staff, the cost of pre-kindergarten and child care programs is often beyond the reach of many working families. Without major new public investments, millions and millions children will continue to enter kindergarten unprepared and this will have a negative impact on the American education system and the ability to compete in a global economy.
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Votes kids strongly supports expansion of head start to every eligible child and universal access to quality preschool programs
The United States Congress has the opportunity to address several issues concerning pre-school education and early learning. Quality pre-school education programs are proven to cut crime and violence, and send children to school ready to learn. Studies have shown that children in these programs have better self-esteem, social behavior, academic achievements, and cognitive development than similar children who did not participate in the programs.
The Congress is considering various measures which could increase access to pre-school education, create new programs, and improve the quality of existing ones. Vote Kids supports the the following legislation and appropriations.
Head Start and Early Head Start
The nation’s premiere school readiness programs for children in low-income families. Head Start provides comprehensive services for 3- and 4-year-olds and Early Head Start provides comprehensive child development to babies and toddlers up to age three. Quality early childhood education programs like Head Start have been proven to help children start school ready to learn and to cut later crime and violence. However, Head Start is so underfunded it cannot serve more than 40% eligible for the program and Early Head Start serves less than 2% of those eligible. The Every Child Matters Education Fund recommends reauthorization and significant new investments in these programs.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG)/Caring for Children Act of 2005 (S525)
Allows low-income parents to work by assisting them with funding for school-readiness child care programs. The President’s most recent budget would lead to 9,900 children in Pennsylvania losing child care. However, the U.S. Senate is considering increase the CCDBG by $7 billion as part of welfare reform reauthorization. Currently Pennsylvania receives $175.10 million from this program. Vote Kids supports reauthorization of CCDBG and recommends increasing funding by at least $7 billion to allow more children to receive child care assistance as well as ensuring that assistance is easy to access and maintain, committing to increasing the quality of child care, and providing funds to expand infant and toddler care.
Pre-Kindergarten Access Act (HR2561 – 108th Congress)
Provides grants to States to establish, expand, or enhance pre-kindergarten programs for children who are not yet enrolled in kindergarten. This bill would provide $29 billion over five years so parents who want to send their children to a high-quality pre-school program can do so. Vote Kids endorses the re-introduction of thisbill , along with a companion in the US Senate, and for Congress to hold hearings and bring this measure to a vote in both chambers.
Click below to help spotlight this legislation to provide the best possible opportunity for early learning and getting a head start on kindergarten:
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