IV 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 238

Expressing support for the Head Start Program, which has had a positive 

impact on the lives of low income children and families since its inception 

and endorsing its administrative structure and program content. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 15, 2003

Mr. PAYNE (for himself and Mr. HOLT) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

RESOLUTION

Expressing support for the Head Start Program, which has 

had a positive impact on the lives of low income children 

and families since its inception and endorsing its administrative structure and program content.

Whereas in 1964 the Federal Government asked a panel of 

child development experts to draw up a program to help 

communities meet the needs of disadvantaged preschool 

children; 

Whereas Project Head Start, launched as an eight-week summer program by the Office of Economic Opportunity in 

1965, was designed to help break the cycle of poverty by 

providing preschool children of low-income families with 

a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, 

health, nutritional, and psychological needs; 
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Whereas in 1969, Head Start was transferred from the Office 

of Economic Opportunity to the Office of Child Development in the U.S. Department of Health, Education and 

Welfare, and for more than 20 years has been a part of 

the Administration on Children, Youth and Families in 

the Department of Health and Human Services, in recognition of the comprehensive service child and family development aspects of the program; 

Whereas Head Start has served 21,214,295 children since it 

began in 1965; 

Whereas more than 133,000 Head Start fathers participated 

in organized regularly scheduled activities designed to involve them in Head Start and Early Head Start programs; 

Whereas Head Start programs by law must collaborate and 

coordinate with Title I schools; 

Whereas Head Start programs collaborate with other agencies such as to provide a cohesive network of services in 

order to ensure responsiveness to the community which 

it serves; 

Whereas 20 States have Head Start waiting lists, totaling a 

half a million children who are eligible for enrollment yet 

unable to enter Head Start programs; 

Whereas a recent national study by the President’s Management Council reported that Head Start received the highest customer satisfaction rating of any government agency or private business; 

Whereas a recent study by the Family and Child Experiences 

Survey concluded Head Start children are ‘‘ready to 

learn’’ and in kindergarten, Head Start graduates made 

substantial gains in word knowledge, letter recognition, 
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math skills and writing skills relative to national norms; 

and 

Whereas parental involvement in Head Start is mandatory 

and key to the success of the program and half of the 

members of the Head Start Policy Council, which serves 

as a vital link between the community and public and private agencies, are made up of parents: Now, therefore, be 

it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog2 nizes the major contribution Head Start has made to 

3 America’s children and families and urges the program to 

4 continue to improve the quality of their classrooms 

5 through attention to the facilities, equipment and supplies, 

6 educational activities, schedule, and interaction with chil7 dren. 

8 SEC. 2. The House of Representatives recognizes 

9 Head Start as an apolitical Federal-to-local partnership 

10 based on community needs and supports maintaining the 

11 current administrative responsibilities of the Department 

12 of Health and Human Services over the program and con13 tinuing the Federal-to-local structure of the program.

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