Legislative Bulletin

Head Start Reauthorization
Update

H.R. 1429 Signed into law December 12, 2007

CRS Side-by-Side Comparison of H.R. 1429, S. 556, and Current Law (PDF)

Head Start for School Readiness Act S.556Passed June 19th (PDF)

H.R. 1429 Head Start Reauthorization Bill 2007 (PDF)

Senator Kennedy's Introduction S. 556 (PDF)

FY 2008 Appropriations

The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee met June 18, 2007 and approved a $200 million increase for the Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Fiscal Year 2008.

Click here to read published articles about current legislation.

Region VII Position Statements

Reauthorization, January 2005 (PDF)

    R7HSA Comments on 2007 Draft House Head Start Reauthorization Bill (PDF)

National Head Start Association Voter Tool Kit

NHSA has made two important products available to help with voter education. Both are free and can be downloaded by clicking the following links.

Voter Participation and Lobbying Laws for Head Start is a 28-page guide designed to help the Head Start community with political involvement. The guide illustrates do's and don'ts for Head Start communities actively involved in the political process. It references the Hatch Act, which is legislation that determines the level of political activities allowable by law.

The tool kit helps programs with Get Out the Vote campaigns. It comes complete with step-by-step instructions on how to carry out a successful GOTV campaign in a local community.

NHSA Voter Tool Kit (Acrobat file)
NHSA Voter Tool Kit Spanish (Acrobat file)

National Issues

The following information represents the views of the Head Start Associations in Region VII, views which will be communicated in Washington, and which we invite you to also convey in a personal letter.

Key Stances:

Region VII Head Start Association believes the evidence clearly demonstrates that:

Head Start Works. The success Head Start has achieved in preparing children living in poverty for school is well documented by numerous studies and by many high-achieving alumni.

Head Start's comprehensive approach is why. Along with a strong academic focus, Head Start incorporates health, nutrition, social skills and parent involvement/education to allow children and families to develop positively.

Literacy is a Critical Component. Region VII Head Start programs have well-developed literacy efforts; these efforts have been augmented by additional training provided through the President's initiative.

You can also connect with Save Head Start and write a letter to your Congressman

Write a letter to your legislator.

Or write your own letter, using our recommended format and addresses of legislators. (PDF)

Frequently asked questions about Head Start

Copy a sample press release to help spread the word about your community’s Head Start program (PDF)

(Click here to download a free version of Adobe Acrobat.)