Early childhood, the first six years of life, is a critical time for children to develop the physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills they will need for the rest of their life. Good nutrition and health care are essential to maximize this developmental process. Head Start is a 55-year-old $11.6 billion federal program helping children attain this goal. Head Start is one of our most successful and longest-running programs fighting systemic poverty. About 35 million children from low-income families have attended Head Start programs and there are more than a million children enrolled today. Beginning at age three, Head Start kids learn fundamental cognitive skills while developing the social and emotional capabilities to begin school. Head Start feeds these children and provides medical, dental and mental health care. Their parents learn about nutrition, child development, and are guided into appropriate community programs if needed. However, due to budget constraints, only 3 of 5 eligible children are currently enrolled in one of our 1,700 Head Start programs nationwide.

Pending Legislation: H.R.2560 - Head Start Improvement Act
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Banks (IN)
Status: House Committee on Education and Labor
Chair: Rep. Robert Scott (VA)