Takai Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Launch of Head Start

Statement

Today, Congressman Mark Takai released the following statement in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the launch of Head Start:

"I would like to extend my deepest mahalo to all of the local organizations that help to serve the over three thousand Head Start enrollees in Hawaii. There is no better way to invest in our future than to invest in education, from early childhood to lifelong learning. Affordable, accessible education is essential in building the foundations our keiki need to succeed. It is my hope that we can continue to strengthen our community, both at home in Hawaii and the across the nation by providing children with quality education early on in their development," Takai said.

"Every child in America should be afforded an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Head Start has a proven track record of success over the last fifty years and now is the time to renew our commitment to providing for our nation's keiki. As we celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary of Head Start we should reflect upon how many children have benefitted from this program, and how to best preserve this educational opportunity for the generations to come," Takai added.

Head Start has served over 30 million children and their families in urban and rural areas all over the country. Head Start promotes school readiness of young children from low-income families through partnerships in their local community. In addition, Head Start programs provide children and their families' health, nutrition, social, and other services vital to early childhood development. Head Start services are responsive to each child and family's ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage.

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