pre-school
issue guide: Head Start
The Skinny
see also background & facts, pro & con, links
What's Up
Head Start, the federal act that funds education, health and social services for low-income pre-schoolers, was up for a revote and possible revamp in '04. In most re-authorization cycles this famously bi-partisan bill sails through Congress, but it hit rough waters when initial proposed changes to strengthen testing and faith-based groups got Democrats and early childhood advocates up in arms.
The debate eventually simmered down, allowing the House and Senate to pass, HR 1429, in November '07.
Rather than follow the president's recommendation to strengthen testing (discussed below), Congress voted to remove national testing requirements. They also nixed a provision that would have allowed faith-based Head Start programs to hire based on religious belief.
