Federal Funding Falls Short of Expectations:  The House Budget Committee has indicated a 1.1% increase for Head Start in FY 2008. This increase is less than Head Start advocates had been working toward in recent weeks.  This would increase funding from (FY07) $6,888,571 to $6,953,571 (FY08).  Related programs - No Child Left Behind 4% increase, Child Care Block Grant 3.6% increase.  California State Budget debate is on-going in Sacramento during the month of June.  Of particular interest, the Legislature has earmarked $20 Million for preschool expansion and $20 million in one-time, Proposition 98 funds for block grants to school districts for one-time activities related to improving the statewide preschool infrastructure, such as professional development for preschool teachers, data collection, teacher training programs, and facilities. The COLA 4.53% is still in place at this time.

 

Head Start Reauthorization - CHSA Head Start Reauthorization Position Statement:  We are waiting on the US Senate to move S. 556, reauthorization legislation for Head Start.  As of June 13, 2007 there appears to be only a slight chance the Senate will call the bill to the floor. As we wait for word from Senate leadership, we continue to examine the implications of pending legislation. There are differences between the House legislation, HR 1429 and the Senate's legislation S. 556. At the June 6, 2007 meeting of the California Head Start Association Board of Directors, the following positions presented by NHSA were discussed and agreed upon.  CHSA will be drafting a letter to all members of California Congressional Delegation to express which elements of the pending bills is most effective to move Head Start forward.  The following is a list of the major points:

 

• Policy Council Issue: CHSA supports the Policy Council language in H.R. 1429. This language maintains the current shared governance structure of Head Start, except for the hiring and firing of the program director.

 

• Competition Issue: CHSA supports the competition language in S. 556. Under S.556 only programs with "unresolved deficiencies" would have to re-compete their grant. Programs would have an opportunity to correct a deficiency before facing re-competition; there is an 18-month grace period before the competition language kicks in. The bill's definition of deficiency includes the term "material." PRISM reports will be required to show strengths and weaknesses. Re-reviews would check for consistency in monitoring. Follow-up reviews for programs will occur for programs that fail to meet at least one performance standard.

 

• Income Eligibility Issue: CHSA supports the income eligibility language in S. 556. This bill would increase the income eligibility guideline from 100 percent to 130 percent of the federal poverty guideline and would maintain the 10 percent over income allowance.

 

• Teacher Qualification Issue: CHSA support the teacher qualification language in H.R. 1429. H.R. 1429 would require at least 50 percent of all teachers nationwide in center-based programs have a baccalaureate or advanced degree in early childhood education or in a field related to early childhood education by September 30, 2013. H.R. 1429 would authorize that 25 percent of the quality set-aside funds be directed to teacher salaries. According to the report accompanying this bill, Head Start programs would not be penalized for failing to meet this requirement.

 

• Early Learning Council: CHSA does not support the Early Learning Council language in H.R. 1429 or S 556. Under H.R. 1429, the Early Learning Council may improve collaboration and coordination within the state however CHSA feels these should be state investments not Head Start funds.

 

• Program Enrollment Issue: CHSA supports the program enrollment language in S. 556 except that programs would have to meet 95 percent enrollment, instead of the 100 percent enrollment requirement in S. 556. If a program's enrollment is less than 95 percent, the CHSA Board supports giving programs training and technical assistance to meet the 95 percent enrollment requirement. If programs still fail to meet that requirement, a portion of a program's grant can be recaptured. Programs must maintain a waiting list. CHSA is pleased that both bills allow for the expansion of services to Infants/Toddlers based upon community needs.

 

• Funding: CHSA supports the language in HR 1429 that articulates a clear process for "redistribution of recaptured funds" to stay within the state of the grantee to increase program participation of underserved populations.  CHSA is pleased to see increased set-asides for Early Head Start, Migrant & Tribal programs.

 

• Religious Discrimination Issue: The NHSA Board agreed that NHSA would oppose any bill that contains language permitting Head Start programs to discriminate in their hiring practices based on an individual's religious preference. CHSA shares this concern as well and would join the opposition.

 

Side-by-Side Comparison of Head Start Legislation

The Congressional Research Service has issued an excellent side-by-side comparison of the House and Senate bills proposed to reauthorization and current law.  The full report is 85 pages, but offers an excellent five page overview.  This report is posted on the CSHA website in the "Latest News"