Home
|
What's New!
Schedule
Hearings
Markups
Press
Issues
Legislation
Search our site:
Webcasting
About the Committee
Chairman's Welcome
Contact the Committee
Committee History
Internships & Fellowships
Members & Jurisdiction
Publications
Links to Additional Resources
SITE INDEX
Early Childhood EducationStrengthening Head Start by Stopping Financial Abuses and Closing the School Readiness Gap H.R. 2123, the School Readiness Act of 2005 (click HERE for a bill summary) A copy of the School Readiness Act, as approved on May 18 by the Education & the Workforce Committee, is available by clicking HERE Since 1965, Head Start has provided comprehensive early childhood services to low-income preschool children and their families. These services are intended to prepare children to enter kindergarten and to improve the conditions necessary for their success in school and life. Head Start today provides these services to nearly one million children across the United States. In his 2002 State of the Union Address, just weeks after signing the No Child Left Behind Act into law to improve results in K-12 education, President Bush urged Congress to take the next step in education reform – helping to prepare children to read and succeed in school – by improving Head Start and early childhood development programs. The Head Start program is scheduled for reauthorization in the 109th Congress, and congressional Republicans want to use the opportunity to strengthen accountability to stop the increasing number of individual financial abuses that damage the program as a whole, and close the school readiness gap that has persisted between Head Start students and their peers. Issue Brief: Strengthening Head Start by Stopping Financial Abuses and Closing the School Readiness Gap
Early Childhood Education
Strengthening Head Start by Stopping Financial Abuses and Closing the School Readiness Gap
H.R. 2123, the School Readiness Act of 2005 (click HERE for a bill summary)
A copy of the School Readiness Act, as approved on May 18 by the Education & the Workforce Committee, is available by clicking HERE
Since 1965, Head Start has provided comprehensive early childhood services to low-income preschool children and their families. These services are intended to prepare children to enter kindergarten and to improve the conditions necessary for their success in school and life. Head Start today provides these services to nearly one million children across the United States.
In his 2002 State of the Union Address, just weeks after signing the No Child Left Behind Act into law to improve results in K-12 education, President Bush urged Congress to take the next step in education reform – helping to prepare children to read and succeed in school – by improving Head Start and early childhood development programs. The Head Start program is scheduled for reauthorization in the 109th Congress, and congressional Republicans want to use the opportunity to strengthen accountability to stop the increasing number of individual financial abuses that damage the program as a whole, and close the school readiness gap that has persisted between Head Start students and their peers.
Issue Brief: Strengthening Head Start by Stopping Financial Abuses and Closing the School Readiness Gap
Press Statements: House Panel Examines In-Home Parent Education and Family Support Programs - September 27, 2006 House Approves Castle Bill to Improve Head Start Early Childhood Program - September 22, 2005 Committee Approves Bill to Reform and Reauthorize Head Start Program - May 18, 2005 Boehner Announces Vote on Head Start Reform Bill as Another Independent Report Confirms Need for Tighter Oversight to Protect Children & Taxpayers - May 16, 2005 Education Subcommittee Approves Castle Bill to Reform and Reauthorize Head Start Program - May 11, 2005 House Republicans Introduce Bill to Reform and Reauthorize Head Start Program - May 5, 2005 Improved Coordination with State Programs Would Strengthen Head Start, Witnesses Tell Congress; Suggestions Offered on Ways to Improve Integration - April 21, 2005 Successful Head Start Programs Highlight Possibilities for Early Childhood Education Reform - April 14, 2005 Federal Government Should Allow More Competition for Head Start Grants, Witnesses Tell House Education Committee - April 5, 2005 Education Committee Unveils Head Start Reform Website; Committee Seeking Public Input on Quality Head Start Programs & Strategies for Success - March 30, 2005 House Education Committee to Hold Hearing April 5th on Financial Management Weaknesses in the Head Start Program - March 24, 2005 Independent GAO Report Criticizes Financial Controls in Head Start Program; Says Reforms are Needed to Prevent Financial Abuses that Cheat Children, Taxpayers, and Honest Grantees - March 18, 2005 Bill Summary: H.R. 2123, the School Readiness Act of 2005 - September 22, 2005 Fact Sheets: Protecting Employment Rights for Faith-Based Service Providers in the Head Start Program - September 22, 2005 Republicans Support Parental Involvement in the Head Start Early Childhood Program - September 22, 2005 Head Start Reform Bill Empowers Parents and Local Communities, Rejects Increased Federal Role in Early Childhood Education - September 22, 2005 Dear Colleague Letters: Don’t Roll Back Head Start Accountability - September 22, 2005 The Boustany Amendment: Head Start Students are Poised to Benefit Most - September 22, 2005 Create Incentives for Quality and Efficiency in Head Start - September 22, 2005 Bush Administration Backs Boustany Amendment, Calls on Congress to Protect the Rights of Faith-Based Institutions - September 22, 2005 Give Parents a More Effective Role in Head Start - September 22, 2005 Administration Agrees: The School Readiness Act will Create a Stronger Head Start Program, Help Ensure Children's Success - September 22, 2005 Protect Parental Involvement in Head Start - September 22, 2005 Protect the Right for Willing Providers to Serve Our Nation's Head Start Students - September 22, 2005 Protect the Rights of Faith-Based Service Providers - September 22, 2005 Support for Boustany Amendment Expands as Vote on School Readiness Act Draws Closer - September 22, 2005 Faith-Based Institutions: Assisting their Neighbors during Katrina - and Beyond - September 21, 2005 Boustany Amendment to the School Readiness Act is Offered in the Spirit of the 1964 Civil Rights Act - September 21, 2005 Give Children the Head Start They Deserve; Vote YES on the School Readiness Act (H.R. 2123) - September 21, 2005 Latino Coalition for Faith & Community Initiatives Strongly Supports Boustany Amendment to School Readiness Act (H.R. 2123) - September 20, 2005 Strengthen the Head Start Early Childhood Program by Closing the School Readiness Gap - September 20, 2005 Coalition to Preserve Religious Freedom Backs Boustany Amendment to School Readiness Act (H.R. 2123) - September 20, 2005 School Readiness Act Increases Competition & Oversight in the Head Start Early Childhood Program - September 20, 2005 Broad Coalition Backs the Boustany Faith-Based Amendment to the School Readiness Act (H.R. 2123) - September 19, 2005 Help Head Start Parents Fight Financial Mismanagement & Abuse; Support H.R. 2123, the School Readiness Act - September 19, 2005 Faith-Based Organizations Should Be Allowed to Serve Our Nation’s Head Start Participants without Forfeiting their Civil Rights - September 19, 2005 Allow Faith-Based Organizations to Do Even More; Restore the Constitutionally-Protected Hiring Rights of Faith-Based Head Start Providers - September 19, 2005 Strengthen the Head Start Early Childhood Program; Vote YES on the School Readiness Act (HR 2123) - September 16, 2005 Assistance for Children & Families Impacted by Hurricane Katrina: the Head Start Program - September 13, 2005 Help Head Start Parents Fight Financial Corruption and Mismanagement; Co-Sponsor H.R. 2123, the School Readiness Act of 2005 - May 27, 2005 Restore the Constitutionally-Protected Hiring Rights of Faith-Based Head Start Providers - May 25, 2005 Get More Without Spending More: Increase Competition in the Head Start Early Childhood Program - May 16, 2005 Increase Competition & Oversight in the Head Start Early Childhood Program - May 16, 2005 Committee Report: Taking Money from Children: Financial Abuse & Mismanagement in the Head Start Early Childhood Program Click here to read the new report Committee Hearings and Markups: On May 18, 2005, the Full Committee held a markup of H.R. 2123, "School Readiness Act of 2005" and approved the bill by a vote of 48-0 - Opening Statements and Related Documents On May 11, 2005, the Subcommittee on Education Reform held a markup of H.R. 2123, "School Readiness Act of 2005" and approved the bill by voice vote - Opening Statements and Related Documents On April 21, 2005, the Subcommittee on Education Reform held a hearing on "Early Childhood Education: Improvement through Integration" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony On April 14, 2005, the Subcommittee on Education Reform held a hearing on "The Best of Head Start: Learning from Model Programs" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony On April 5, 2005, the Full Committee held a hearing on "Financial Accountability in the Head Start Early Childhood Program" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony Click HERE for information on this issue in the 108th Congress (2003-2004)
Press Statements:
House Panel Examines In-Home Parent Education and Family Support Programs - September 27, 2006
House Approves Castle Bill to Improve Head Start Early Childhood Program - September 22, 2005
Committee Approves Bill to Reform and Reauthorize Head Start Program - May 18, 2005
Boehner Announces Vote on Head Start Reform Bill as Another Independent Report Confirms Need for Tighter Oversight to Protect Children & Taxpayers - May 16, 2005
Education Subcommittee Approves Castle Bill to Reform and Reauthorize Head Start Program - May 11, 2005
House Republicans Introduce Bill to Reform and Reauthorize Head Start Program - May 5, 2005
Improved Coordination with State Programs Would Strengthen Head Start, Witnesses Tell Congress; Suggestions Offered on Ways to Improve Integration - April 21, 2005
Successful Head Start Programs Highlight Possibilities for Early Childhood Education Reform - April 14, 2005
Federal Government Should Allow More Competition for Head Start Grants, Witnesses Tell House Education Committee - April 5, 2005
Education Committee Unveils Head Start Reform Website; Committee Seeking Public Input on Quality Head Start Programs & Strategies for Success - March 30, 2005
House Education Committee to Hold Hearing April 5th on Financial Management Weaknesses in the Head Start Program - March 24, 2005
Independent GAO Report Criticizes Financial Controls in Head Start Program; Says Reforms are Needed to Prevent Financial Abuses that Cheat Children, Taxpayers, and Honest Grantees - March 18, 2005
Bill Summary:
H.R. 2123, the School Readiness Act of 2005 - September 22, 2005
Fact Sheets:
Protecting Employment Rights for Faith-Based Service Providers in the Head Start Program - September 22, 2005
Republicans Support Parental Involvement in the Head Start Early Childhood Program - September 22, 2005
Head Start Reform Bill Empowers Parents and Local Communities, Rejects Increased Federal Role in Early Childhood Education - September 22, 2005
Dear Colleague Letters:
Don’t Roll Back Head Start Accountability - September 22, 2005
The Boustany Amendment: Head Start Students are Poised to Benefit Most - September 22, 2005
Create Incentives for Quality and Efficiency in Head Start - September 22, 2005
Bush Administration Backs Boustany Amendment, Calls on Congress to Protect the Rights of Faith-Based Institutions - September 22, 2005
Give Parents a More Effective Role in Head Start - September 22, 2005
Administration Agrees: The School Readiness Act will Create a Stronger Head Start Program, Help Ensure Children's Success - September 22, 2005
Protect Parental Involvement in Head Start - September 22, 2005
Protect the Right for Willing Providers to Serve Our Nation's Head Start Students - September 22, 2005
Protect the Rights of Faith-Based Service Providers - September 22, 2005
Support for Boustany Amendment Expands as Vote on School Readiness Act Draws Closer - September 22, 2005
Faith-Based Institutions: Assisting their Neighbors during Katrina - and Beyond - September 21, 2005
Boustany Amendment to the School Readiness Act is Offered in the Spirit of the 1964 Civil Rights Act - September 21, 2005
Give Children the Head Start They Deserve; Vote YES on the School Readiness Act (H.R. 2123) - September 21, 2005
Latino Coalition for Faith & Community Initiatives Strongly Supports Boustany Amendment to School Readiness Act (H.R. 2123) - September 20, 2005
Strengthen the Head Start Early Childhood Program by Closing the School Readiness Gap - September 20, 2005
Coalition to Preserve Religious Freedom Backs Boustany Amendment to School Readiness Act (H.R. 2123) - September 20, 2005
School Readiness Act Increases Competition & Oversight in the Head Start Early Childhood Program - September 20, 2005
Broad Coalition Backs the Boustany Faith-Based Amendment to the School Readiness Act (H.R. 2123) - September 19, 2005
Help Head Start Parents Fight Financial Mismanagement & Abuse; Support H.R. 2123, the School Readiness Act - September 19, 2005
Faith-Based Organizations Should Be Allowed to Serve Our Nation’s Head Start Participants without Forfeiting their Civil Rights - September 19, 2005
Allow Faith-Based Organizations to Do Even More; Restore the Constitutionally-Protected Hiring Rights of Faith-Based Head Start Providers - September 19, 2005
Strengthen the Head Start Early Childhood Program; Vote YES on the School Readiness Act (HR 2123) - September 16, 2005
Assistance for Children & Families Impacted by Hurricane Katrina: the Head Start Program - September 13, 2005
Help Head Start Parents Fight Financial Corruption and Mismanagement; Co-Sponsor H.R. 2123, the School Readiness Act of 2005 - May 27, 2005
Restore the Constitutionally-Protected Hiring Rights of Faith-Based Head Start Providers - May 25, 2005
Get More Without Spending More: Increase Competition in the Head Start Early Childhood Program - May 16, 2005
Increase Competition & Oversight in the Head Start Early Childhood Program - May 16, 2005
Committee Report:
Taking Money from Children: Financial Abuse & Mismanagement in the Head Start Early Childhood Program
Click here to read the new report
Committee Hearings and Markups:
On May 18, 2005, the Full Committee held a markup of H.R. 2123, "School Readiness Act of 2005" and approved the bill by a vote of 48-0 - Opening Statements and Related Documents
On May 11, 2005, the Subcommittee on Education Reform held a markup of H.R. 2123, "School Readiness Act of 2005" and approved the bill by voice vote - Opening Statements and Related Documents
On April 21, 2005, the Subcommittee on Education Reform held a hearing on "Early Childhood Education: Improvement through Integration" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony
On April 14, 2005, the Subcommittee on Education Reform held a hearing on "The Best of Head Start: Learning from Model Programs" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony
On April 5, 2005, the Full Committee held a hearing on "Financial Accountability in the Head Start Early Childhood Program" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony
Click HERE for information on this issue in the 108th Congress (2003-2004)
Privacy, Security, Copyright, and Link Information
For technical questions or comments about this Web site e-mail the Webmaster