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Reserve your hotel rooms today – Call Hyatt Regency
Newport Beach at 949 729 1234 and ask for the
California Head Start Association discount. Deadline
is January 10, 2007 or as soon as the room block is
sold out.
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New
Pre-Conference Sessions
In addition to the over 100 training sessions, keynote speakers, special guest and events at our upcoming 9th Annual General Conference, CHSA will be offering four excellent full-day Pre-Conference Institutes. Registration materials will be on the CHSA website December 8th. Lunch will be provided for participants of the Pre-Conference Institutes. Registration fees for each of the Pre-Conference Institutes will vary. Check the website for details.
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Each year CHSA brings to California Head Start
Conference national figures to provide program
leaders with the latest information from Washington
DC. For 2007 we have scheduled three policy
makers: Mr. Michael Petit, the President of
Every
Child Matters Education Fund will be our Breakfast
Keynote along with two very special guests,
Congresswomen Loretta Sanchez and NHSA
President
Ron Herndon. To learn more about our speaker
or
purchase a ticket, go to our web site and check out
the Conference web page – caheadstart.org
The Public Policy Breakfast will talk place at the
Hyatt Regency Newport Beach on the last day of the
General Conference. Tickets for the Breakfast are
available along with your conference registration or
purchased alone. The cost is $55.00
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It appears from all reports, the 109th Congress, the
second Congress to work on Head Start’s legislation,
will close in a few weeks without completing the
legislative steps necessary to reauthorize Head
Start. In addition, the federal spending bills with
jurisdiction over Head Starts $6.9 billion budget will
not be passed, yet funded along with other programs
under a “continuing resolution”.
As reported in the media, the 110th Congress
leadership is forming and a number of California’s
Congressional Representatives look to play a
significant role. In terms of Head Start,
Representatives George Miller – D, Contra Costa
County, Lyn Woolsey – D, Marin, Susan Davis – D,
San Diego will play important roles on the House
Workforce & Education Committee. Representative
George Miller will be the committee chair and will
control the development of the new Head Start
legislation. The new Congress convenes January 4,
2007. On the Senate side, Massachusetts Senator
Ted Kennedy will chair the committee that has
jurisdiction over Head Start – Senate Health,
Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP). Mr. Miller and
Mr. Kennedy have history of work collaboratively on
legislation.
According to National Head Start Association, “with the new Congress now in charge of reauthorization, it is less likely that there will be serious efforts to dismantle Head Start through block grants, a roll back of civil rights protections for employees, or indiscriminate re- competition of all Head Start program grants. There will probably be stronger support for halting the National Reporting System, providing meaningful increases to staff and teachers who go back to school, and an expanded effort to increase the income eligibility guidelines.” NHSA Legislative Update, November 21, 2006 |
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California Head Start Association has
reached out to Congressman Miller and his senior
staff to dialogue over both reauthorization legislation
and federal appropriations. It is clear from these
discussions the Head Start legislation will move early
in the year. Draft legislation may be completed as
early as February. House committee staffs are
committed to taking a fresh look at a number of
aspects of the bill, however there remains a
tremendous need to demonstrate the implications of
policy that we advocate. California Head Start
Association leaders will move forward developing
positions on the following policy positions:
• Increasing Income Eligibility to 130% of Poverty • Expansion of Early Head Start & Migrant Head Start, system reform to allow programs to better meet community needs in service options. • Incentives for Programs involved in State/local service collaborations • Financial and Structural support for staff to obtain higher education degrees • Securing the full authority of Parent Policy Councils In addition, CHSA will work closely with a number of
coalitions foremost the National Head Start
Association to advocate for the needs of children
and families touched by our agencies. CHSA Board of
Directors is committed to engaging and activating a
broad number of constituencies in the early part of
2007. CHSA has moved forward on the following:
1. Requesting Congressman Miller as Chair of the Committee convenes a Field Hearing on the west coast in February on Head Start to take testimony from parents, alumni, staff and community partners. 2. Scheduling monthly Conference Calls with senior staff on the House and Senate Committees involving CHSA Board and coalition advocates. The first call is scheduled for January 30, 2007 3. CHSA Board and association staff will continue to build support among California’s early childhood education community as well as state/local elected leaders to send a strong message of commitment for the work of California Head Start programs. |
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Retirement Announcement!
The Region IX Office of Head Start recently announced the retirement of this regions most experienced program specialist, Maria Fort (pictured here). With over 33 years of service to children & family, Maria's retirement is well deserved. Send notes of thanks to Maria Fort, Region IX Office of Head Start 50 United Nations Plaza San Francisco, CA 94102 This past week we lost two very special friends in the Head Start community. On Wednesday we were notified of the death of Ms. Sue Honciano. Sue was a Program Specialist for the Region IX Office of Head Start. Her family has asked that all notes and letters be sent to the Regional Office in San Francisco. Her colleagues will be passing the letter on to the family. Address notes as follows: Ms. Jan Len Region IX Office of Head Start 50 United Nations Plaza San Francisco, CA 94102 For: Mr. Angelo Honciano On Thursday, we were informed by the Riverside County Office of Education, Ms. Margie Herrera, past RCOE Head Start Director & CHSA Board Member passed away. Margie had been admitted to hospice care just a month ago. Her family has asked that all notes and letter be sent to the Riverside County Office of Education. Address notes as follows: Ms. Esmirna Valencia, Director Head Start/Early Head Start Division of Children and Family Services Riverside County Office of Education 3939 Thirteenth Street Riverside, CA 92502 For: Herrera Family |
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Sincerely,
Edward Condon
California Head Start Association
email:
chsa@caheadstart.org
phone:
916-444-7760
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