Recently, Head Start parents went to Augusta and spoke to legislators and said it would not be a good thing to block grant Head Start for all the reasons you mentioned (May 25).

I would like to comment about moving Head Start to the Department of Education.

The Head Start program addresses issues such as improving the richness of the early learning experience for not only young children, but for their parents as well. It is clearly the focus of families and fighting poverty in a comprehensive manner that has led to the program’s success in getting children ready for school, improving their literacy and numeracy skills, and giving their parents the skills in becoming their child’s first and best teacher.

Specifically, the comprehensive nature of the program addresses the social, cognitive and physical needs of children and the coordinated involvement of parents in the program so they are committed to their child’s education.

Remaining under the Department of Health and Human Services ensures greater collaboration and integration of all the components providing the education, health, family and community supports and services that contribute to children’s readiness, especially for low-income children and families.

The DOE holds no guarantee that key program components will remain.

DHHS has the ability, history and infrastructure to do so.

Estelle Rubenstein, executive director

Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care,

Lewiston