November 30, 2007

Legislative Update on Head Start Reauthorization

The Improving Head Start Act of 2007, which passed both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate by a vote of 381-46 and 95-0 respectively, will be sent to President Bush for his signature once the U.S. Congress returns from its Thanksgiving Day recess on December 3, 2007. All expectations are that the President will sign the bill. Following the bill becoming law, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, office of Head Start will initiate its regulatory responsibility by issuing proposed program regulations and guidance.

Immediately following passage of the Head Start reauthorization, Sarah Greene, NHSA President and CEO, Luis Burguillo, Jr., Director of Government Affairs, and Catherine Polanski, GAD Administrator met with the Acting Director of the Office of Head Start, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to initiate discussions on the upcoming rule writing process. The office of Head Start committed to actively participate in upcoming NHSA conferences, as part of its outreach effort to inform, update and gather input from the Head Start community.
NHSA continues to participate in meetings with hill staff involved with appropriations and with coalition partners on policy matters related to Head Start.
NHSA will develop and circulate for the Head Start community an analysis of the Improving Head Start Act of 2007 for all upcoming NHSA meetings and gather input for proposed rule.

In The News

Senator Lott Resigns Leadership Post
Sen. Trent Lott's (R-MS) announced his retirement as the Senate Republican Minority Whip* following on the heels of former House Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), who resigned on Monday, November 26. 2007. Lott served a total of 35 years in both the U.S House of Representatives and Senate. Lott's departure from the Senate brings to a total of 23 Republican seats that the Republican Party has to defend. The Democrats, on the other hand, will defend 12 seats in upcoming November 2008 election. Presently, the Senate is evenly split, 49 to 49 with two independents that generally vote with the Democrats and give the Democrats party the majority in the Senate. Consequently, The Democrats are in the leadership, set the legislative agenda, and appoint committee chairs.

As a result of Senator Lott’s announcement, Senators Jon Kyl, (R-AZ), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX) and freshman John Thune (R-SD) announced that they would seek to move-up to the Republicans' No. 2 leadership spot of vote-counting whip, after Minority Leader** Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Senate Republicans are expected to pick their new leaders as soon as they return from the Thanksgiving recess. The resignation of Senator Lott, in the middle of a congressional term, hands-over to the newly re-elected Republican Governor, Haley Barbour, the pick of Mississippi’s next freshman Senator, making the appointee a shoe-in for the special election in November of 2008.

The potential Republican contenders include Representative Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Representative Chip Pickering (R-MS) who announced his resignation from the House of Representatives as well. On the Democratic side, former Attorney General Mike Moore, and other potential Democratic contenders include, former governor Ronnie Musgrove, and Ray Mabus. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which supports Democratic candidates, sees Lott’s departure as the writing on the wall for the Republican party in 2008 and as part of a long list of Republicans making the decision either not to run again, or offering their resignation prior to the November 2008 general election. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee views the departure of these Republican incumbents as an opportunity to consolidate and increase their numbers in the Senate, beyond the 49 seats that they currently hold. To date, there are 23 senatorial seats that Republicans have to defend, while Democrats have 12 seats up for election.

Mississippi is soundly Republican, making a Democratic success there a long shot, especially when one considers that Governor Haley Barbour won with 58 percent of the vote and President Bush received 59 percent of the votes in 2004.

Mississippi Head Start Figures

Head Start Program Information Report for the 2005-2006 Program Year
Enrollment Statistics Report - State Level Summary (Including AI/ANPB and Migrant Grants)

Mississippi

Enrollment by Funding Source:

Total Funded Enrollment:	26,973
ACF Funded Enrollment:	26,916	99.79%
Non ACF Funded (HS Eligible):	57	0.19%

Enrollment by Program Option:

Full Day (5 days per week):	18,921	70.15%
Part Day (5 days per week):	7,367	27.31%

Enrollment of Children by Age:

1 Year Old:	342	1.15%
2 Years Old:	422	1.42%
3 Years Old:	11,615	39.20%
4 Years Old:	16,576	55.95%
5 Years and Older:	429	1.45%

Enrollment by Ethnicity: Enrollment by Primary Language:

Hispanic or Latino Origin: 413
Non Hispanic / Non Latino Origin: 29,410

Enrollment by Race:

American Indian/Alaska Native:                      345        1.16%
Asian:                                                           94        0.32%
Black or African American:                        24,586       82.44%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander:                       3        0.01%
White:                                                      4,294       14.40%
Bi-Racial or Multi-Racial:                               250        0.84%
Other (See Comments):                                      1        0.00%
Unspecified:                                                 250        0.84%    6%

Program Staff and Qualifications:

Total Staff: HS/EHS Contracted

6,133 110

Parents

Former or current Head Start or Early Head Start parents: 2,864 7

Volunteer Information:

Total number of persons providing any volunteer services to your program: 35,301

Volunteers who are former or current Head Start or Early Head Start parents: 21,431

Glossary of Legislative Terms

*Majority and Minority Whips - Assistants to the floor leaders who are elected by their party. The Majority and Minority Whips are responsible for mobilizing votes within their parties on major issues. In the absence of a party floor leader, the whip often serves as acting floor leader.

**The Majority Leader and Minority Leader - Are elected by their respective party to serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and to manage and schedule the legislative and executive business of the Senate.

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The Global Poverty Trap

By Robert J. Samuelson, October 31, 2007

Excerpts:

It's nature vs. nurture. One of the big debates of our time involves the causes of economic growth. Why is North America richer than South America? Why is Africa poor and Europe wealthy? Is it possible to eliminate global poverty? The World Bank estimates that 2.5 billion people still live on $2 a day or less. On one side are economists who argue that societies can nurture economic growth by adopting sound policies. Not so, say other scholars such as Lawrence Harrison of Tufts University. Culture (a.k.a. "nature") predisposes some societies to rapid growth and others to poverty or meager growth.

Gregory Clark, an economist who interestingly takes the side of culture. In an important new book, “A Farewell to Alms: A Brief Economic History of the World,"

…..Clark suggests that much of the world's remaining poverty is semi-permanent. Modern technology and management are widely available, but many societies can't take advantage because their values and social organization are antagonistic. Prescribing economically sensible policies (open markets, secure property rights, sound money) can't overcome this bedrock resistance.

…..Clark's theory is controversial and, at best, needs to be qualified. Scholars do not universally accept his explanation of the Industrial Revolution. More important, China's recent, astonishing expansion (a fact that he barely mentions) demonstrates that economic policies and institutions matter. Bad policies and institutions can suppress growth in a willing population; better policies can release it. All poverty is not preordained. Still, Clark's broader point seems incontestable: Culture counts.

To read to full article click here: The Global Poverty Trap

Please join us in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 24th Annual NHSA Parent Training Conference, December 14- 18, 2007.

Dollar Per Child

Thank you to those of you who have already begun sending your donations for the 2007-2008 Dollar per Child campaign.

Please continue to mail checks to NHSA Dollar per Child Campaign, P.O. Box 890080, Charlotte, NC 28289-0080. Be sure to note which program, state, or region your donation is representing. Thank you for all of your support.

NHSA has developed MySpace and Facebook pages! These pages will be used to promote networking between Head Start Centers, teacher, parents, and supporters, alert users of important Head Start legislation and tell them how to advocate for the issues, share Head Start success stories, learn about job and internship opportunities, and share parenting tips and home literacy activities. Sign-up on these sites today and search for National Head Start Association! Visit http://www.facebook.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/ to sign up. Thank you to Kate Amburgey and Kimberly Croft for creating these pages.