Conference Report on H.R. 1429, Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007

CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1429, IMPROVING HEAD START FOR SCHOOL READINESS ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - November 14, 2007)

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Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Head Start is a critical part of this country's effort to combat the effects of poverty and ensure that all of our children have the opportunity and skills they need to thrive.

Since its creation in 1965, it has proven to be our most valuable school readiness program in the history of this country--especially, now that we know more about the importance of early-childhood education.

Study after study demonstrates that by age 6, a child's capacity to learn is largely formed, and time after time, we have seen reports that prove students who attend Head Start perform better than those who don't.

By doing this, Head Start is helping to close the achievement gap between students of differing socio-economic status across our country, and helping the children in our communities by providing opportunities that they might not otherwise have.

Additionally, people often forget the wonderful things that this program does for the parents.

The key to Head Start's approach is its level of actively involving parents and the community in all aspects of the program--and this reauthorization would further this goal.

Parents are a child's first teachers, and Head Start helps build and foster a person's parenting skills in various ways.

Parents are also urged to improve their literacy skills, obtain adult basic education, and make their homes a place where reading is part of everyday life.

Head Start also tackles a wide range of poverty issues through its family and community partnerships, including: substance abuse, violence, HIV, homelessness, single-parent households, inadequate child care, unemployment, and numerous other stressors that challenge families' resources.

This program is clearly instrumental to our country.

The Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 will reinvigorate Head Start and help more children arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed.

I urge my colleagues to support this report.

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Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support the Conference Report on H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007. This bipartisan legislation takes significant steps to strengthen the Head Start program so that children will be better prepared and ready to succeed when they begin kindergarten. H.R. 1429 increases funds targeted at improving teacher quality and provides additional support for the program's extensive monitoring process and the comprehensive services offered to the students' families. In addition, it expands access to Head Start for more children, increases coordination efforts with State and local programs, and eliminates any further development of the controversial and ineffective National Reporting System.

For over 40 years, the Head Start program has worked to break the cycle of poverty by providing access to early childhood education for low-income children and families. In the House budget for FY 2008, the State of Texas is estimated to receive approximately $490 million in Head Start funding which will go towards providing services for over 68,000 students. Since it first began in 1965, the program has served more than 20 million children, and it continues to play a major role in our Nation's efforts to close the achievement gap, reduce poverty, and ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed.

Studies have shown that students with a high quality pre-Kindergarten education enjoy greater success in academics as well as their overall lives. The Head Start program goes a long way in addressing educational inequity by aiding low income children in their social and cognitive development. I am a firm supporter of this program and the lifelong benefits it provides. It is only by addressing this critical need that we will be able to ensure a better future for all our Nation's children.

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