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Washington, DC -- This session, Congressman John Sarbanes has worked diligently with fellow members of Congress to develop the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act. The act will strengthen Maryland’s existing Head Start program and help more children arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed.
Congressman Sarbanes is a member of the House Education and Labor Committee which marshaled bipartisan support for Head Start. Named as a Conferee during the Head Start reauthorization process, Mr. Sarbanes was part of the Democratic movement to reinvigorate Head Start. The legislation will improve teacher and classroom quality, strengthen Head Start’s focus on school readiness, expand access to Head Start for more children and improve comprehensive services that help children by helping their families.
“Head Start has been the premiere early childhood education program in Maryland for families with children ages birth to five,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “Head Start is essential to closing the poverty and achievement gap that currently exists. This bipartisan legislation is just what we need to move this act forward and help our children succeed.”
The act will address income eligibility, support the working poor and help more programs operate full-day and year-round.
Head Start was established in 1965 and is the longest running, most successful national school readiness program in the United States. In Maryland Head Start currently serves nearly 13,000 children. More than 10 percent of Head Start enrollees are children with disabilities.
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