Just for Parents Newsletter
June 2007 Spanish
As Head Start’s reauthorization moves forward, the National Head Start Association serves notice to the Senate that NHSA champions parent participation and urges both chambers (Senate and House) to find additional funding for Head Start. NHSA rallies parents to get involved in the struggle to save their role in shared governance.
Head Start Funding Update for Fiscal Year 2008
On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $200 million increase for Head Start and Early Head Start for the fiscal year 2008. This amount falls short of the $750 million increase requested for 2008, and NHSA asks for your help.
- Please contact your member of the House and Senate and urge them to increase Head Start and Early Head Start funding by $750 million for fiscal year 2008.
- Contact your member of Congress by dialing 202-224-3121.
Head Start Reauthorization Update
The Senate has voted on and passed S.556, the Head Start for School Readiness Act, by a unanimous vote. S.556 in its current form basically eliminates shared governance in Head Start and reduces the role of parents in Head Start to that of an advisory group.
NHSA has sent a letter to Senator Kennedy and Senator Enzi thanking them for the good changes found in S.556 but also informed them that NHSA will not support the bill (S.556) in its current form without restoring parent’s role in shared governance.
The House has already passed its version on Head Start’s reauthorization, which restores the participation of parents in shared governance with the exception of hiring and firing of the Head Start Director.
What’s Next for Head Start’s Reauthorization?
A Conference Committee consisting of members from the Senate and the House will be assembled to resolve the differences in both house and senate versions of the bills (H.R.1429 and S.556). After an agreement has been reached the final version will be approved and sent to President Bush for his approval or veto.
Take Action Now!
- Contact your member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, especially if these members represent your state, and urge them to support the Policy Council language in H.R.1429. This language supports maintaining the current shared governance structure of Head Start with the exception of hiring and firing of the Head Start director.
- Go to the Web site www.saveheadstart.org and sign a letter in support of the Policy Council.
- Join us by dialing 888-727-6732 and the pass code 436552# for a special call on Wednesday, June 27, 2007, at 8:30 p.m. EST to discuss and implement plans for saving parents’ role in shared governance.
Parents, the future of parent participation in Head Start’s shared governance is at stake. We need your assistance to secure the cornerstone of this great program, so please join us!
|
