NHSA:  $2.1 BILLION HOUSE LEVEL FOR HEAD START
IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY PACKAGE SHOULD BE TARGET FOR CONFEREES 

Effort to Zero Out Head Start Funds Defeated in Senate, But House Version is Preferred

WASHINGTON, D.C.///February 10, 2009///The National Head Start Association (NHSA) issued the following statement today via NHSA Board Chairperson Ron Herndon, who also is the director of the Albina Head Start program in Portland, Oregon:

"While we recognize that the Senate included just over $1 billion for Head Start in the economic stimulus bill it passed, we urge the House-Senate conferees to retain the House mark of $ 2.1 billion.

The truth is that up to 60,000 jobs could be created - and that is not even including related construction positions - with the $2.1 billion that Congress has discussed for Head Start and Early Head Start.

The arguments that some are making today that more spending on Head Start is ‘non-stimulative' as part of the package are simply untrue.   Not only would the targeted stimulus funds go directly to the hardest-hit communities where they are needed most, but they could be put to work immediately to hire more teachers, more aides, and other staff, as well as the construction workers needed to fix or replace Head Start's deteriorating schools and other infrastructure.

And then there is this fact:  More Head Start slots and more full-time Head Start programs mean that more low-income parents with children can get jobs and go to work, helping the economy to recover that much faster.

More and more elected officials now understand just how important Head Start funds are to a well-rounded stimulus package and how these funds will affect their communities.  We believe that this growing awareness explains why efforts to zero out extra funds for Head Start were defeated in Senate negotiations.   

Even though we announced on January 8, 2009 that Head Start needs $4.3 billion as part of the economic recovery package, we were pleased that the House of Representatives' version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment bill includes $2.1 billion for what are America's most successful early childhood education and health programs.
 
We urge House-Senate Conferees to retain the $2.1 billion House mark for Head Start and it is our hope that final passage by the two chambers will follow as soon as possible."

ABOUT NHSA

The National Head Start Association (http://www.nhsa.org) is a private not-for-profit membership organization dedicated exclusively to meeting the needs of Head Start children and their families. It represents more than one million children, 200,000 staff and 2,600 Head Start programs in the United States. The Association provides support for the entire Head Start community by advocating for policies that strengthen services to Head Start children and their families; by providing extensive training and professional development to Head Start staff; and by developing and disseminating research, information, and resources that enrich Head Start program delivery.

CONTACT:  Ailis Aaron Wolf, (703) 276-3265 or aawolf@hastingsgroup.com.