June 2005

 

Please circulate this document to all Head Start parents

Head Start’s reauthorization is moving to the full floor of the House (H.R. 2123) and Senate (S.1107) at a fast pace with final passage expected to take place in July. NHSA and many Head Start supporters continue to have major concerns regarding both House and Senate bills. NHSA has urged Republicans and Democrats to continue to work in a bi-partisan way (together) with the Head Start community to improve both bills. We continue to remain hopeful that this process will lead to a bill we all can support. NHSA does not support the House bill (H.R. 2123) or Senate bill (S. 1107) in their current form. 

 

Key concerns regarding both bills include: the National Reporting System (NRS); increasing educational requirements for Head Start teachers without additional funding for salaries; and reducing the role of parents in Head Start by weakening the policy councils.

 

Parent Policy Councils

Both House (H.R.2123) and Senate (S.1107) bills raise concerns, especially as they relate to grave changes in the role of parents serving on Head Start Policy Councils. In their current form, both bills reduce the role of policy councils to simply that of an advisory group. The House bill would allow parents to elect their own representatives to the Policy Council and require that the Policy Council chairperson serve on a program’s governing board. Unfortunately, the Senate bill does not include either of those provisions and is a much worse deal for parents.

 

Halting the NRS

Efforts are still underway to halt the National Reporting System (NRS). NHSA, researchers, and child advocates are requesting that the NRS be discontinued until a more valid and reliable instrument is developed and proven prior to being used in the assessment of Head Start children.

 

 

Teachers’ Degrees Are Required, But No Additional Pay Is In Sight

House and Senate bills still require 50 percent of all Head Start teachers to hold bachelor’s degrees by 2011. The Senate bill is even more stringent, as the requirement is center-based rather than national. In addition, the Senate bill would require all Head Start programs within a state to match the state pre-k requirements for teachers. Put simply: If Tennessee requires all of its state pre-k teachers to have at least a bachelor’s degree and a certification, all of the Head Start teachers in Tennessee would also have to have the same degree in order to work in Head Start. Neither bill includes any additional funds for Head Start teachers once they have obtained their degrees. It will be extremely difficult to develop and maintain quality teachers in Head Start without providing a fair wage. Rural programs will be affected the most because of the lack of educational resources (colleges and universities) available in their communities to train and maintain quality teachers.

 

 

Parents Let Your Voices Be Heard, Call Your Senators Now! (202) 224-3121

• Urge senators to protect family values in Head Start by not reducing the role of parents in the programs shared decision-making.
• Ask your senators to urge their colleagues to support the involvement of parents in the education of their children.
• Halt the NRS until a proven assessment is developed for use in Head Start.
• Support quality in Head Start by providing a decent wage for Head Start teachers.
• Join NHSA’s parent conference calls the third Wednesday of each month at 8:30 p.m (EST). Dial (888) 457-6338 and enter pass code 5722#.

 

Parents, the time has come to really show elected officials that we are committed to the well-being of our children and the proven legacy of Head Start by making that call today!