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Press Releases
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REPORT: HEAD START BLOCK GRANT
DESTROYS PROGRAM
Bush Plan Dismantles Quality Services, Sets
Head Start Up for Failure |
WASHINGTON Shifting federal control of Head Start’s comprehensive preschool services to state governments with neither performance standards nor additional funding will hurt the program that for decades has helped poor children arrive at school ready to learn, according to a report released today by the Children’s Defense Fund. State preschool programs during times of economic prosperity did not demonstrate a commitment to Head Start’s comprehensive standards or provide the health, social and emotional supports young children need. Evidence shows that during budget crises, which most states are now experiencing, state prekindergarten programs will fall even further behind Head Start’s federal standards.
Children’s Defense Fund President Marian Wright Edelman said today’s report shows that Head Start needs to be improved and expande—not dismantled.
“The Bush Administration’s proposal to dismantle Head Start is part of a bold plan to break the sacred covenant between people and their federal government,” said Edelman. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. More importantly, if it ain’t broke, don’t break it.”
The report shows that the comprehensive services Head Start provides are essential to a child’s social, emotional and cognitive development. The Bush Administration’s own Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) released earlier this year admits that Head Start provides America’s poorest children a quality early childhood education to help them succeed in school and in life. Head Start programs each year prepare nearly one million poor children to enter kindergarten.
The Bush Administration’s proposal fails to improve and expand Head Start within the structure that it says has a proven record. It removes performance standards and accountability, and creates a new layer of bureaucracy. House Republicans recently introduced the Administration’s controversial legislation putting Head Start’s proven, high quality preschool services at risk.
Only three out of five eligible preschoolers currently participate in Head Start, and less than 3 percent of eligible infants and toddlers are enrolled in Early Head Start. The Children’s Defense Fund believes Head Start’s health, nutrition, early educational and social protections should be improved and expanded. The Bush Administration believes Head Start’s comprehensive federal standards should be dismantled, giving states with the worst budget deficits since World War II authority over the program without health, nutrition and social protections.
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Background Information:
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The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investment before they get sick, into trouble, drop out of school, or suffer family breakdown. CDF began in 1973 and is a private, nonprofit organization supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations. We have never taken government funds. |
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