First, there was the Bush administration's proposal to reform Head Start. [See http://www.edexcellence.net/gadfly/issue.cfm?issue=10#350.] That proved too strong for the House, which watered the measure down. [For that sad tale, see http://www.edexcellence.net/gadfly/issue.cfm?issue=2#58.] Even this weak brew barely passed the House 217-216 (thanks to opponent Richard Gephardt, who missed the vote while campaigning). Now Senate Democrats have decided that even the tepid House version is too hot to handle. They would drop the 8-state experiment (intended to enable states to coordinate Head Start with other pre-school programs), even as Connecticut's Chris Dodd calls for doubling the program's budget. Tennessee's Lamar Alexander has offered an interesting proposal to create 200 "Centers of Excellence" that would showcase successful Head Start programs. States would have a role in nominating these exemplary programs but would not themselves be put in charge of Head Start. Engaging states big-time in Head Start planning and management seems dead. What remains in question is whether Congress will have the gumption to mandate a stronger pre-literacy focus for this 38-year old program. What's the matter with that? The Head Start establishment doesn't want to change anything at all and Head Start workers don't want to go back to college to learn how to teach children to get ready to read. Shame on them.
"Dodd seeks to beef up Head Start," by Joseph Straw, New Haven Register, July 30, 2003
"Senators offer alternatives to House idea on Head Start," by Diana Jean Schemo, New York Times, July 29, 2003