Political Quotes

“I am pleased to cosponsor the legislation we are considering to improve and expand Head Start. Today, as violence pervades the lives of so many young children, the need for Head Start is greater than ever. The Head Start program is one of the best and most cost effective educational investments we can make. It enables needy children to start school ready and able to learn. Head Start lowers the drop-out rate and the illiteracy rate, and gives our most vulnerable children the tools they need to succeed in school. Yet today only a third of eligible children participate in Head Start. Clearly we must expand Head Start to enable all eligible children to participate. But the quality of Head Start programs across the country is uneven. We must not merely increase the number of children served without ensuring that they are served well. This legislation expands Head Start--but also improves the quality of the programs. The goal of this legislation is that every Head Start center will offer high quality and comprehensive family and educational services. The quality improvements called for in this legislation include further staff development, more effective federal oversight, providing full day or full year services and services to younger children, improving family literacy and strengthening linkages with elementary schools. The legislation we are voting on today is the first serious effort to improve the quality of the Head Start program.”