9486 in the collection
Oppose H. R. 2210
Dear Member of Congress:
Many of us wrote to you on June 10th urging you to oppose H.R. 2210, the School Readiness Act, unless significant changes were made in the legislation. We regret that after subcommittee and full committee mark up those changes have not been made. Therefore, we write once again in opposition to the legislation and urge you to reject H.R. 2210.
The centerpiece of the legislation is its Title II proposal to turn the successful Head Start program over to cash-strapped states, without requiring that these state programs meet Head Start's performance standards, which guarantee comprehensive services to this nation's most vulnerable children and their families. The Head Start program has been studied, tested, evaluated and given high marks for nearly 40 years. Head Start not only prepares children for school by providing a solid foundation in cognitive learning and socialization skills, but also helps make them "ready to learn" by providing the comprehensive health, dental and nutritional services critically needed by our at-risk children. Title II of H.R. 2210 also ignores the critical role that families play in the success of Head Start.
Adding to our concern is the fact that this bill does not authorize the necessary resources either to strengthen or expand Head Start. Though the bill requires half of all Head Start teachers to have a BA degree by 2008, there is no funding to ensure that Head Start programs will be able to attract and retain qualified teachers. The bill does not include the necessary funding levels to reach the significant numbers of children who could benefit from Head Start and Early Head Start. Finally, we are disappointed at the lack of commitment to our nation's migrant and seasonal farm worker families who will remain woefully underserved if this legislation is adopted.
For these reasons, we respectfully request that you oppose H.R. 2210."
Sincerely,
ACORN
Agenda for Children
Applewood Centers
Alliance for Children and Families
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
American Federation of Teachers
American Othopsychiatric Association
Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities
Catholic Charities USA
Child Welfare League of America
Children's Action Alliance
Children's Aid Society
Children's Defense Fund
Coalition for Greater Cleveland's Children
Coalition on Human Needs
The Episcopal Church, USA
Family Violence Prevention Fund
Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
Food Research & Action Center
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Kentucky Youth Advocates
Illinois Facilities Fund
McAuley Institute
Lutheran Services in America
National Black Child Development Institute
National Center on Poverty Law
National Council of Jewish Women
National Education Association (NEA)
National Respite Coalition
National School-Age Care Alliance
National Urban League
National Women's Law Center
NETWORK, A Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Positive Education Program
Prevent Child Abuse America
RESULTS
Service Employees International Union
The Children's Project
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Way of America
Voices for Virginia's Children
Volunteers of America
Washington Ethical Action Office
Women Employed
For more information, contact: Shelly Waters Boots, Children's Defense Fund, at 202-662-3554 or sboots@childrensdefense.org.
— Children's Defense Fund
June 2003
childrensdefense.org
INDEX OF OUTRAGES
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