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Space Fights For Children In Rural America

Press Release

Date: May 8, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Education

SPACE FIGHTS FOR CHILDREN IN RURAL AMERICA

A champion for the needs of rural Americans, Congressman Zack Space (D-OH) recently introduced an amendment that passed on the House Floor helping children of working families in rural areas have greater access to early child development services.

Space's initiative offers vast improvements for Head Start programs in rural areas, calling the attention of the Department of Health and Human Services to many of the challenges they face in recruiting and retaining teachers, performing outreach to eligible participants, and involving parents in their programs.

"For four decades now, Head Start has provided invaluable services and programs to our low-income families," Space said. "They help bridge a critical gap in our society and level the playing field for our nation's children."

"But as good as these programs are, they often disadvantage our rural students," said Space. "My measure will help address the limits rural children face in accessing its programs and will encourage parental involvement. We need to make sure Head Start is strong in our rural areas and that children are taking advantages of the services available to them. Distance should not be a factor in the issue of whether our children are getting valuable services."

The Space amendment, which the senior Republican on the House Education and Workforce Committee said "makes this bill stronger," calls on the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give consideration to:
• developing innovative and effective models of professional development for staff living in and serving populations in rural communities;
• removing barriers to parent involvement in Head Start programs in rural communities;
• removing barriers to providing home visiting services in rural communities; and
• removing barriers to obtaining health screenings for Head Start participants in rural communities.

Head Start was created in 1965 to comprehensively provide early childhood development services to low-income children. Head Start provides child development, educational, health, nutritional, and other programs.

In 2006, Ohio had more than 38,000 Head Start students.


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