WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Head Start Conference Report that passed the House by a vote of 381-36 today, shares provisions similar to legislation that Congressman Adam Putnam introduced earlier this year and during the 109th Congress.

The Head Start for School Readiness Act, which reauthorizes the program, increases local governance of Head Start programs. It establishes local independent boards to closely monitor budgets, bylaws and staff of Head Start agencies. The measure also tightens the rules for monitoring and auditing programs and a process for correcting problems. The legislation now heads to the White House for the president to sign, making it law.

 "Head Start is an important program," said Putnam," and we owe it to the children who are supposed to be served by Head Start to safeguard the program from waste and abuse. This bill moves us in the right direction and holds providers of Head Start services to a higher level of accountability."

Provisions of the Head Start for School Readiness Act include:

• Establishing that each Head Start agency is required to have a governing body.

• Authorizing monitoring visits within 6 months of when a Head Start agency shows deficiencies.

• Authorizes the governing agency to take specific actions to correct deficiencies or face termination.

• Prohibiting Head Start agencies from using federal funds for legal appeals to rulings of the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

• Establishing a requirement for annual audited financial reports detailing all administrative expenses.