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Saving & Strengthening Head Start
The Challenge
Since 1965, Head Start has helped over 20 million children build the confidence and skills
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| Senator Murray visits a Head Start center in Clark County. - July 2, 2003 |
Senator Murray supports strengthening Head Start and increasing resources for pre-literacy and language skills. Murray supports ongoing professional development for Head Start teachers in language and emergent literacy. Literacy training would include specific methods to best address the needs of children whose primary language is not English, have speech and language delays, or other disabilities.
In 2003, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee unanimously agreed to a reauthorization proposal that would save Head Start from being dismantled. The Senate bill rejected an irresponsible House-passed proposal to block-grant Head Start funding to the states, where the program’s high standards could be degraded.
Under questioning from Sen. Murray as to why block granting would be
the best option for Head Start, a Bush Administration witness from the
Department of Education told HELP Committee members: “We really
do not have rigorous studies that speak either to the impact of Head
Start as currently delivered or to the impact of state programs.”
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"The Senate HELP Committee said no to Head Start block grants and yes to protecting the needs of our most vulnerable children. I am proud of our bipartisan effort to build on Head Start’s 38 years of success in early education and to make a good program even better. The House-passed plan to block grant Head Start would have gutted a successful program – with needy children paying the price. The House’s plan would not have helped get any of the thousands of children on waiting lists into Head Start classrooms. And it would not have provided a single additional child with a strong foundation for learning or the health services and parent support to help him or her get ahead. Underprivileged kids should not be guinea pigs for ideological experiments in block-granting and testing." |
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News Releases
12/16/2008
Education: Murray Calls Duncan Nomination a "Step Forward" in Meeting Education Challenges
6/6/2008
Senator Patty Murray Statement on Obstruction of Climate Change Legislation in U.S. Senate
11/14/2007
Senator Murray Helps Strengthen Head Start
6/19/2007
Education: Senator Patty Murray on Senate Passage of Head Start Reauthorization Bill
2/14/2007
Senator Murray's Statement on Critical Step Toward Head Start Reauthorization
5/28/2004
Remarks by Senator Patty Murray at the Kent Family Services Center Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting
5/19/2004
Remarks by Senator Murray on the State of Education in America
10/30/2003
Following Murray's Lead, Senate Committee Would Save Head Start from Block Grants
10/6/2003
Remarks by Senator Murray on Affordable Child Care at West Central Community Center
8/12/2003
Remarks by Senator Patty Murray on the Gonzaga University and NEXT IT Corporation Partnership
8/7/2003
Remarks by Senator Murray to the Mockingbird Society
8/5/2003
PHOTO: Meeting with Head Start Directors
7/29/2003
Murray Introduces Senate Proposal to Strengthen Head Start
7/29/2003
PHOTO: Strengthening Head Start
7/22/2003
Murray Grills Administration Officials Over Head Start Plans
7/22/2003
PHOTO: Senator Murray Presses Administration Officials About Plans to Change Head Start
7/2/2003
PHOTO: Highlighting the Success of Head Start
6/18/2003
Murray Statement on House Plan to Dismantle Head Start
2/13/2003
Murray Secures Critical Funding for Central Washington Priorities in Omnibus Conference Report
2/13/2003
Murray Secures Critical Funding for Puget Sound Priorities in Omnibus Conference Report
7/19/2002
Murray Helps Restore Education Funding Cuts
8/2/2001
Murray Announces $1 Million To Expand West Central Community Center In Spokane
4/9/2001
Senator Patty Murray Reacts to Bush Budget Cuts
3/29/2001
Senator Murray Calls on President Bush to Increase Education Funding
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Articles
County worries about Head Start; critics of federal overhaul say changes endanger program
“Thurston County officials are worried about what will happen to their programs after the House narrowly voted Friday to overhaul Head Start.”
“Their best hope might be that the legislation faces a rocky future in the Senate.”
- The Olympian - July 26, 2003
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Editorial: Head Start: One vote, false promise
“The unrelenting push for state pilot projects smacks of ideological fervor for eliminating federal responsibilities, not commitment to low-income families and their children.”
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer - July 28, 2003
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Editorial: Bush scheme on Head Start needs time out
"'I feel that the administration’s proposal,’ said Murray, ‘is tantamount to pulling the funding away from a very successful program for young children.’ And the loudest message from the hearing may have been in body language. Just about all the Democratic committee members, from Ted Kennedy to Hillary Clinton, appeared; the hearing drew only two Republicans, including the chairman."
- The Oregonian - July 23, 2003
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Senator visits local Head Start center to show support
“Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray surveyed Clark County Head Start teachers, parents and administrators Wednesday morning, preparing to battle Republicans this summer over proposed changes to the early childhood program.”
- The Columbian - July 3, 2003