Statement of Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the Introduction of the Head Start Coordination and School Readiness Act of 2003

STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON THE INTRODUCTION OF THE HEAD START COORDINATION AND SCHOOL READINESS ACT OF 2003

Every child in America deserves the chance to succeed in school. For more than 30 years, Head Start has successfully given disadvantaged children that chance, and we are here today to make sure they continue to get it. Head Start is one of the most important and most effective poverty-fighting programs in this country, and the legislation we are introducing today will protect it and strengthen it.

The President and House Republicans want to lead Head Start in the wrong direction. By the slimmest of margins—one vote—the House passed a bill to start dismantling Head Start by turning it into block grants that do not guarantee the comprehensive services that make Head Start the model program that it is today across the country.

Our bill rejects block grants and strengthens Head Start by building on its proven track record. We call for full funding of Head Start over the next five years and a doubling of Early Head Start, which now serves only a shameful three percent of eligible infants and toddlers.

We strengthen the quality and performance standards that are the heart of Head Start. We protect Head Start's comprehensive services, and we enhance its services for literacy, math and social development.

We give Head Start teachers the professional opportunities and professional wages they deserve. We set a goal of a teacher with a bachelor's degree in every Head Start classroom in 8 years—we call for the resources to get them there.

We strengthen coordination between Head Start and other early learning programs in the states. We create an office in each state to align Head Start with kindergartens, to coordinate services and to offer the best professional-development opportunities for all preschool teachers.

Our bill also enhances Head Start's accountability, which is already one of the most thorough and exacting in the country.
With the help of the National Academy of Sciences, high-quality child assessments will be developed that are valid, reliable, and fair to children of all backgrounds, and that measure development of all the aspects of development of the child.

I'm hopeful that we can gain strong bipartisan support for these important reforms. Young children need Head Start, and we know it's effective. The last thing we need is to turn Head Start into Wrong Start or No Start.