NHSA: PRESIDENT OBAMA, CONGRESS DESERVE HIGH PRAISE FOR $2.1 BILLION IN RECOVERY PACKAGE FOR HEAD START 

WASHINGTON, D.C.///February 17, 2009///The National Head Start Association (NHSA) issued the following statement today via NHSA Board Chairperson Ron Herndon, who also is the director of the Albina Head Start program in Portland, Oregon:

“Tens of thousands of new jobs will be created –- and more than 200,000 existing jobs will be supported -– now that President Barack Obama has signed into law the economic recovery package containing $2.1 billion for Head Start.

We want to express our strong support for this action by President Obama and also those many responsible Members of Congress who recognized that targeted stimulus funds for Head Start will be going directly to the hardest-hit communities where they are needed most.

These funds will be used immediately to hire more teachers, more aides, and other staff, as well as the construction workers needed to fix or replace Head Start’s deteriorating facilities and other infrastructure.

Just as important, more Head Start slots and more full-time Head Start programs mean that more low-income parents with children can get jobs and go to work, helping the economy to recover that much faster.  These parents entering the work force or undergoing job training now will have safe, high-quality programs for their children.

We are very pleased that the recovery bill signed into law today includes $2.1 billion for Head Start -- America’s most successful early childhood education and health program.  We look forward to continuing to work with President Obama and the Congress to ensure that Head Start is able to more fully meet its critically important mission for American children, parents and communities.”

ABOUT NHSA

The National Head Start Association (http://www.nhsa.org) is a private not-for-profit membership organization dedicated exclusively to meeting the needs of Head Start children and their families. It represents more than one million children, 200,000 staff and 2,600 Head Start programs in the United States. The Association provides support for the entire Head Start community by advocating for policies that strengthen services to Head Start children and their families; by providing extensive training and professional development to Head Start staff; and by developing and disseminating research, information, and resources that enrich Head Start program delivery.

CONTACT: Ailis Aaron Wolf, (703) 276-3265 or aawolf@hastingsgroup.com.