Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

National Head Start Association Legislative UPDATE

Sep 13, 2002

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NHSA Update
National Head Start Association Legislative UPDATE
August 16, 2002
NHSA Gains Several Big Victories in Senate Report Language
Beyond supporting a $332 million increase, the Senate Appropriations Committee also included
many important provisions in their report language Although report language does not have the
force of law it is meant to provide guidance and can be utilized as legislative history. This year
the report language garnered strong bipartisan support in the Committee. Senator Harkin (D-IO)
deserves to be especially recognized for his tireless work on behalf of Head Start children and
families. As part of our advocacy efforts, NHSA was influential in ensuring that the following
was included in the Senate Report:
FACES Study
The Committee made special note of the recent Family and Child Experiences Survey
preliminary report released in late June. The Committee was impressed by the substantial gains
made by Head Start graduates and felt that such results merited the program to receive a sizable
increase. The Report states that ?“these findings support the significant investments that the
Committee has supported for the Head Start program.?” This language is critical because it
continues to bolster our argument that Head Start provides first class literacy and language
programming to all children and families.
While the President may not believe in the success of Head Start, a bipartisan Senate has put into
writing their belief that Head Start is truly an investment in America?’s future.
Good Start, Grow Smart Initiative
As many of you know, NHSA has expressed some strong reservations about the
Administration?’s one size fits all literacy initiative. Through our advocacy efforts we were able
to secure report language that stressed that Head Start is more than just a literacy program
despite the Administration?’s long held belief:
The Committee is aware of efforts currently being undertaken to improve pre-literacy
skills in Head Start children and lauds the administration for its commitment to this
effort. However, the committee cautions against anything that would detract from the
comprehensive nature of the program in delivering early childhood development and
family services. While school readiness is front and center in the goals of Head Start, the
elements necessary to achieve that readiness range from adequate nutrition and health
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screening to social and emotional development and family building as well as the
cognitive growth of young children.
In addition, the report language also called attention to some of the ethical issues regarding the
procurement process and the CIRCLE training. Specifically, the report states that ?“the
committee encourages the Department to ensure that in securing pre-literacy training and
technical assistance for Head Start grantees, every reasonable effort is made to use competitive
procedures in securing private sector service providers to assist in completing the Head Start
mission.?” This important piece of legislative language is another reminder that the Senate will
be looking over the shoulder of the Administration and that they share NHSA?’s concerns about
the CIRCLE training.
Increase the Over-Income Enrollment From 10% to 25%
The Senate Appropriations Committee also supported increasing over-income enrollment in
Head Start programs from the current 10 percent to 25 percent. ?“The Committee encourages the
Secretary to exercise his authority, as appropriate, to permit the enrollment of over-income
children and their families in up 25 percent of program placements, so long as services are not
denied to income-eligible children and families as a result of this flexibility.?” The Committee, as
they had last year, has agreed with the Head Start community that because the poverty guidelines
are so low, over-income enrollment must be substantially increased in order for Head Start to
serve families who are trying to stay off of welfare. NHSA has sent letters to the Administration
to move on this issue and intends to follow up by continuing to build strong congressional
support. It is imperative that the Head Start community contact their member of congress.
Please ask your member of congress to write to Secretary Thompson and encourage him to
issue the necessary guidance, so that programs can begin implementing this change.
Head Start Programs Should be Able to Serve Children Birth to Compulsory School Age
The Committee also agreed with recent brain research demonstrating that intervention services
are needed for the youngest of America?’s children. In the Report the Committee wrote that it
?“encourages the Department of Health and Human Services to support efforts by local Head Start
programs to use grant funds to deliver quality services to the infant and toddler population where
a community assessment evidences a need for such services and the local program has the
capacity to meet that need.?” This important legislative language is very significant because not
only does it make it clear that the Head Start Act does not proscribe age requirements, it is also
reflects the Committee?’s strong belief that local programs need the flexibility to best their
community.
Head Start Bureau Needs to Focus More Attention on Proper Nutrition and Should Enter
Into a Cooperative Agreement with the National Head Start Association
The Committee also recommended that the Head Start Bureau review the scope of good nutrition
and physical activities as is required by the Program Performance Standards. The Committee
also recommended that the Bureau review activities presently being undertaken by Head Start
programs. There concern about this issue was in response to a recent study put out by Tufts
University finding what we already know: ?“children without an adequate diet may have trouble
concentrating in school, participating in play, bonding with peers, and performing at their
potential.?” Moreover, the Committee recommended that the Head Start Bureau work with
NHSA on strengthening this important comprehensive service. The Report states that the Head
Start Bureau is to work in collaboration with NHSA ?“to devise a plan for implementing a locallydetermined
but coordinated effort to achieve the goals of a stronger, more vibrant and effective
nutritional and physical activity component within Head Start programs. The Committee also
recommended that ?“the Head Start Bureau will enter into a cooperative agreement with the
National Head Start Association to carry out these activities.?”
Although the report language has cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee it is still pending
in Congress. Thus, now is the time to contact your member of congress and tell them to support
a $1 billion increase in funding for 2003 and to also support this important report language. You
can reach your member of congress by calling the capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
Remember that the House Appropriations Committee plans to take up funding for Head Start in
early September so please call now!
Please circulate this document widely to all staff, parents, and friends of Head Start.
This document is paid for with Dollar Per Child Campaign donations.
For more information on the campaign,
contact Joel Ryan, Brocklin Qualls, or Kahree Wahid in the Government Affairs Division
at NHSA, (703) 739-0875