House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives

Education Issues

Head Start

Since 1965, Head Start has provided comprehensive early childhood services to low-income preschool children and their families.  Services provided to preschool-aged children include child development, educational, health, nutritional, social, and other activities, intended to prepare children to enter kindergarten and to improve the conditions necessary for their success in school and life.

In the 109th Congress, the House passed a bipartisan bill to strengthen accountability within the program and combat the increasing number of individual financial abuses uncovered by the Committee in recent years.  The bill also would have increased competition for Head Start grants.  In the 110th Congress, congressional Republicans will continue working toward bipartisan reforms that strengthen accountability and close the school readiness gap that persists between Head Start students and their peers.

Press Releases

McKeon Selected as Education and Labor Committee’s Senior Republican for 111th Congress (December 10, 2008)

Democrats Favor New Bureaucracy Over Resources for Head Start Program (June 26, 2008)

Democrats Refuse to Limit Federally-Funded Home Education Services for Illegal Immigrants (June 18, 2008)

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Fact Sheets

H.R. 1429 Conference Report: Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act (November 13, 2007)

Strengthening the Head Start Early Childhood Education Program (March 14, 2007)

Protecting Employment Rights and Religious Character of Faith-Based Service Providers in the Head Start Program (March 14, 2007)

Dear Colleagues

Help More Children Arrive At Kindergarten Ready to Succeed (November 13, 2007)

Vote NO on the Shuler Fake Faith-Based Amendment (May 2, 2007)

Vote YES on the Faith-Based Motion to Recommit (May 2, 2007)

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Floor Statements

McKeon Statement on Improving Head Start Act (H.R. 1429) (May 2, 2007)

Committee Statements

McKeon Statement: Markup of H.R. 3289, the “Providing Resources Early for Kids Act of 2007” (June 25, 2008)

Platts Statement: Markup of H.R. 2343, the Education Begins at Home Act (June 18, 2008)

McKeon Statement: Hearing on H.R. 2343, the “Education Begins at Home Act” (June 11, 2008)