Letter to Brandie V. Knazze, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Support Services - Rep. Garcia, Chicago Members of Congress Demand Answers from City Agency on head Start and Early Head Start Changes

Letter

Dear Commissioner Knazze:

We write to express our deep concerns about the recent re-competition of Head Start and Early
Head Start awards and the disproportionate impact this will have on Latino, Black, immigrant,
and low-income children and families as well as early education service providers across
Chicago. Given the critical role Head Start plays in children's early learning, it is urgent that the
Department of Family & Support Services (DFSS) assist these non-profit organizations and the
families they serve during this transition period to mitigate the harm this will undoubtedly cause
and ensure a smooth and transparent process. We hope to identify the decisions that led to this
troubling outcome and understand the city's role in the current and future application, selection,
and funding processes to prevent disruptions like this in the future.

While we understand some of the reasoning behind the decision to drastically alter funding for
service providers, the reality is that these funding processes and decisions have resulted in the
inequitable distribution of slots. Failure to adequately account for the cultural and linguistic
needs of our communities, transportation barriers, and the impact on the early educator
workforce and other wrap-around services has left communities with an unacceptable lack of
coverage and created tremendous uncertainty for local organizations and families who have been
hardest hit by the pandemic. A hastily made decision and poorly planned transition can undo
years of building trust in our communities and we are concerned that as a result, countless
families may simply opt out of early education for their children.

While we thank the Office of Head Start (OHS) for extending the transition timeline, more action
is required to protect the thousands of children and families affected by the re-competition.

Included below are several questions we would like to be addressed:

1. How many children are currently enrolled in early childhood education in Chicago by
type of program and age? How many children are on waiting lists? What is the actual
need (total population, not enrolled)? Please include demographic and geographic
breakdown by ward, zip code, or congressional district.
2. Why did the City of Chicago request changes to slots in 2019 from OHS? What data was
used to justify the need to adjust and reduce slots in early 2019? Were service providers
consulted on this request? Were members of the Chicago City Council consulted about
this request?
3. What was the cost per slot in 2018 and how has it changed since? What is the current cost
per slot and how much funding would be needed to maintain full enrollment of current
slot needs? Provide a breakdown of cost per slot, number of slots needed, number of slots
granted, and enrollment since 2018.
4. Please provide a review and a follow-up report on the re-competition process including
scoring criteria and ranges for selection.
5. Please provide an update on the number of children successfully transitioned from sites
without federal funding to new Head Start and Early Head Start sites. Please include
demographic and geographic snapshot.
6. What information is DFSS communicating with families of their options and of potential
transfers? How is information provided? What options are available for families that are
assigned to sites that do not meet their needs (e.g., cultural and linguistic needs,
proximity, etc.)?
7. Is the city planning to use any federal COVID-19 related relief funds, such as American
Rescue Plan Act funding, as well as basic transfer authorities or administrative
flexibilities to maintain the lost slots needed for Head Start services? If so, how much? If
not, why not?
8. How often does the City of Chicago conduct evaluation of current early childhood
education enrollment needs and what is the plan to effectively align with Chicago Public
Schools Universal Pre-K settings?
9. What role does the Chicago City Council play in early childhood education oversight?
When and how were members of the council informed of the reduction in Head Start
slots in 2021?

Head Start and Early Head Start programs are a vital resource for families throughout Chicago
and this country, especially as we continue to face a pandemic and its concomitant economic,
education, health, and mental health crises. Ensuring that low-income families have access to
appropriate comprehensive early education services is critical to the development of our youth.
The breakdown in communication and coverage that is currently impacting many of our
constituents is a cause for great concern.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request. Given the urgency of this matter for
children and families in my district, I ask you to respond to these questions by September 16th,
2021. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Patty Garcia in Congressman García's office
at Patty.Garcia@mail.house.gov or (312) 489-7726.

Sincerely,