Congress is due to reauthorize Head Start this year, and President Bush is advocating some big changes through legislation currently being considered by the House of Representatives.

The legislation seeks to increase coordination between state programs and Head Start, emphasize the basics of reading and math, increase the number of early childhood educators with college degrees and improve evaluation methods. Sounds great, but there’s a catch.

For all the talk about reform, quality control and measuring performance, the bill basically shifts funding mechanisms and sets standards without providing states with additional cash. The bill would set up federal block grants that would be delivered to states. Currently, grants go to specific programs.

Critics of the legislation worry, rightly, that cash-strapped states could spread Head Start dollars thinly in an effort to save other programs. A new layer of bureaucracy also is added.

Since its creation in 1965, Head Start has served more than 20 million disadvantaged children nationally and has more than 910,000 kids enrolled today. The federal government spent about $6.5 billion on the program in fiscal year 2002, with more than $26 million coming to Maine, where more than 4,000 children participate. More than 25 percent of those have been diagnosed with special needs.

The program is working locally. In Androscoggin County, there are 14 programs serving 385 children. Franklin County has 31 programs and Oxford County adds another 16.

Information from The State of Child Care in Maine 2002 report shows the program’s success. Head Start often helps children who have the most work to do before they are prepared for school. The program narrows this preparation gap.

According to a report analyzing Maine Head Start, research shows that the typical Head Start child improves in terms of the cognitive and social skills necessary for kindergarten. In addition, participants showed significant gains in vocabulary, letter recognition, writing and other pre-literacy skills.

Head Start also has been successful in making safe and appropriate child care available for low-income families. The state Department of Human Services estimates that it costs about $5,480 a year for full-time child care for a four-year-old. That’s a prohibitive expense for a family living near the poverty line. Where would those families go without Head Start?

If Congress and the president are serious about improving Head Start, the answer is pretty simple. Allocate more money. According to the Children’s Defense Fund, only three of five eligible children can find a slot in a Head Start program and only 3 percent of eligible infants and toddlers are served in Early Head Start.

The average wage for a Maine child care teacher is $7.80 an hour or about $16,000 a year. If we expect these teachers to be highly trained and to stay on the job, we have to pay them more.

Head Start isn’t perfect. But it’s success shouldn’t be tinkered with; too many children depend on it.


[email protected]