Wilson Statement on Passage of Head Start

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2007

CONTACT: Ryan Murphy
(202) 225-2452 (Office)
(202) 689-4825 (Cell)

Wilson Statement on Passage of Head Start

Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02), member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, issued the following statement today after the House of Representatives approved the Conference Report on H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, by a vote of 381 to 36. Congressman Wilson, a conferee on the Head Start reauthorization, joined many of his colleagues in supporting the conference report.

“Head Start is an important program that has the potential to help raise the level of early education for thousands of American children,” said Wilson. “However, there were necessary improvements that needed to be made to this program. I am pleased that many of those issues have been addressed in this conference report and that we will soon send this important legislation to the President’s desk for his signature.”

“By raising teacher qualifications, we are ensuring that a greater number of Head Start teachers are fully prepared and versed in early education. This concentration on childhood development will help foster Head Start programs that are better focused on the fundamental skills of language, reading, and mathematics.

“As with any government program, it is vital that we take full advantage of limited resources and personnel by establishing a good governance structure. I am reassured by the parental involvement provisions that have been included in this reauthorization. No one has a better understanding of the needs of their children than parents, and their involvement is imperative if we are to establish a program that can reach its full potential.”

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