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| Wilson Highlights Head Start Reauthorization |
September 22, 2005 |
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| Congresswoman Welcomes School Readiness Act
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Heather Wilson today welcomed House passage 231-184 of the School Readiness Act of 2005 (H.R. 2123) which reauthorizes the Head Start program through 2011.
“Head Start is a great program that can continue to get better,” Wilson said.
The plan contains measures to improve the program and extend its benefits to more children. The bill allows more competition for grants, improves disclosure and transparency, and boosts the role of states and local school districts. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report this spring found flaws in Head Start’s financial control system, leading to bipartisan support for reform legislation.
Highlights of the School Readiness Act of 2005:
More competition. Grantees that meet all requirements will be designated as priority grantees. Local Head Start operators identified as having one deficiency or more during the five-year spans of the federal grants will be required to compete against other potential grantees upon renewal. The U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services, who oversees the Head Start program, will retain the right to terminate a Head Start grant at any time during the five-year grant cycle.
Improved disclosure and transparency. The bill will require all Head Start grantees to make available to the public an annual report detailing spending, funding sources, and performance. An independent financial audit will also be required annually.
Greater role for states. In order to qualify to receive a federal Head Start grant, organizations will be required to have objectives in place for improving school readiness that are aligned with state-developed K-12 academic content standards. In order to be considered priority grantees, organizations entrusted with federal Head Start funds will be required to us curricula aligned with state-developed K-12 academic content standards. Grantees that fail to meet this standard will be required to compete with other applicants for potential federal grants.
Greater role for local school districts. In order to be considered priority grantees, organizations entrusted with federal Head Start funds will be required to demonstrate active partnerships with local educational agencies (local school districts) serving the same communities. Grantees that fail to meet this standard will be required to compete with other applicants for potential federal funds.
Better safeguards against financial abuse. Head Start operators will be required to meet a range of financial disclosure requirements as a condition of receiving and keeping their federal Head Start grants. Grantees will be overseen by a local governance board that provides direction and actively oversees all program activities, and will be required to document that they have strong fiscal controls in place, including the employment of a qualified chief financial officer. Grantees will also have to maintain administrative costs that do not exceed 15 percent of total program costs.
Improved teacher quality. In order to be considered priority grantees, organizations entrusted with federal Head Start funds will be required to have a teaching staff of at least 50 percent with AA degrees. Grantees that fail to meet this standard will be required to compete with other potential grantees and will face the possibility of losing their federal grants. The percentage of Head Start staff nationwide required to have BA degrees will be increased to 50 percent.
No new testing. Like its 2003 counterpart, the School Readiness Act contains no new testing provisions.
Improved school readiness. The bill will emphasize what works in preparing disadvantaged children for school. It will strengthen Head Start`s academic standards by emphasizing cognitive development and the results of scientifically-based research in topics critical to children`s school readiness (including language, pre-reading, pre-mathematics, and English language acquisition). The changes would be similar to those adopted with strong bipartisan support for the Bush administration’s Reading First and Early Reading First initiatives, established in the No Child Left Behind Act for K-12 education.
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