Student Success Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chairman, there is no doubt that Head Start programs produce incredible benefits for American children and families involved and for their communities. Those benefits are not only educational, but economic and health-related as well.

As a former Head Start commissioner in California, I have seen firsthand how effective these programs can be at making kids excited about learning at an early age and the positive effects that they have on their education in the future.

The original intent of the law was to ensure that local education agencies are working collaboratively with Head Start to ensure Head Start is providing services that are the most thoughtful and relevant to their local community. However, while Head Start agencies are required to form coordination agreements with local education agencies, the opposite is not true, which slows the process and creates unnecessary bureaucracy.

For example, this loophole causes Head Start agencies to spend weeks on end trying to pin down the local education agency. The local education agency, on the other hand, doesn't feel that it is a priority to sign an official agreement since they are not required to do so. This causes the process to break down.

This amendment is short and sweet. It would simply strengthen the language that currently exists within the ESEA, which reads that both parties must coordinate with early childhood programs and, instead, require local education agencies to develop agreements with Head Start agencies.

It would make agreements a two-way street, would clarify and solidify the process, and would be a victory for local education agencies, Head Start programs, and the children in the programs that they both serve.

It is long overdue to make this fix, and it is noncontroversial and nonpartisan.

I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Chair.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source