Douglas Alexander: “I cosponsor 1107, the Head Start Improvements for School Readiness Act, a bill to reauthorize Head Start. I join my…”

“I cosponsor 1107, the Head Start Improvements for School Readiness Act, a bill to reauthorize Head Start. I join my colleagues Senators Enzi, Kennedy, and Dodd in support of this legislation. I would like to see Head Start expanded and serve more children but first we must ensure that this program is accountable, financially solvent, and meeting the purpose for which it was intended. This bill strengthens the Head Start program, making four key improvements by: No. 1, establishing 200 Centers of Excellence that would serve as model Head Start programs across the country; No. 2, providing that grantees shall re-compete to receive grants every 5 years to help ensure a constant, high level of quality; No. 3, clearly defining ``deficiency'' so that local Head Start providers know the standards by which they will be held accountable; and No. 4, providing clear authority to the governing boards to administer--and be held accountable for--local Head Start programs while ensuring policy councils, on which parents sit, continue to play an important advisory role. Head Start has been one of our country's most successful and popular social programs. That is because it is based upon the principle of equal opportunity, which is at the core of the American character. Americans uniquely believe that each of us has the right to begin at the same starting line and that, if we do, anything is possible for anyone one of us.…”