IN MIDST OF ATTACK ON HEAD START, ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR NATIONAL HEAD START ASSOCIATION TAKES PLACE IN NYC

Highlights to Include “Save Head Start” Rally in Bryant Park; Sessions to Focus on Legislative Challenges, Child Testing.

NEW YORK CITY -- The National Head Start Association (NHSA), facing a White House and GOP House plan to dismantle the 38-year-old Head Start program serving nearly 1 million at-risk children across America, holds its 30TH annual conference May 27-30, 2003 at the Hilton New York.

The media is welcome to attend all sessions. A full press room will be available throughout the conference. For a detailed program or interview arrangements, contact Christine Kraly, (703) 276-3258 or ckraly@hastingsgroup.com.

Program highlights include:

• Opening General Session, May 27, 2003, 7-9 p.m. Radio City Musical Hall. Statements by Edward Zigler, PhD, Sterling Professor of Psychology, emeritus director of the Center in Child Development and Social Policy, Yale University; Ron Herndon, chairman of the board, National Head Start Association; and Sarah Greene, president, National Head Start Association. Zigler, who is often called the “father” of Head Start, will receive an award, and will address why states are not equipped to administer the Head Start program. In his remarks, Herndon will address “moving ahead with Head Start.”
• Rally to Save Head Start, May 28, noon-2:30 p.m., from the Hilton New York to Bryant Park. Thousands are expected to gather to hear the comments of NHSA Board Chairman Ron Herndon, who will address the efforts underway in Washington, D.C. to deprive nearly 1 million at-risk children of the Head Start program. In addition to serving as chairman of the Head Start Board, Herndon is the director of the Albina Head Start program in Portland, Oregon.
• Annual Legislative Lunch, May 29, 12:15-2:15 p.m., Marriott Marquis Westside Ballroom. Remarks are to be delivered by U.S. Rep. Major Owens (D-New York).

The NHSA training conference will be preceded on May 26, 2003 by “New York City Head Start Appreciation Day,” which will be coordinated by the Administration for Children’s Services City-Wide Head Start Policy Council and The Educational Alliance, Inc., Children & Family Services Division, Parent Policy Committee. Head Start children will create a life-size apple made of paper mache. A related luncheon will be held at H.S.F. Restaurant, 46 Bowery Street, New York City, 2 p.m.-6 p.m. on May 26th. For more information about the event, contact Andrew Kok Chong Lee, New York City Head Start Policy Council, (917) 567-6606.

FOR GENERAL CONFERENCE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Christine Kraly, (703) 276-3258 or ckraly@hastingsgroup.com, for a complete program and interview details.