House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives

Dear Colleague:

Today, the House will consider the conference report to reauthorize the Head Start program. We urge your support for this bipartisan legislation, which will reinvigorate Head Start and help more of America’s children arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed. 
Every year, Head Start provides a strong educational curriculum, in additional to health, nutrition, and parent education services, to nearly 1 million families.  It has been the premier early childhood education program in the U.S. for more than 40 years and remains a cornerstone of this country’s efforts to close the achievement gap.  Research finds that Head Start students make important gains in reading and writing while they attend the program and that Head Start graduates continue to gain ground after they leave Head Start.

The Head Start conference report builds on the program’s success by improving teacher and classroom quality, strengthening the focus on school readiness, boosting coordination between Head Start and other state and local early childhood programs, expanding access to more children, maintaining strong parent involvement, and increasing program accountability at the federal, regional, and local levels.

Please join us in helping this nation’s youngest children arrive at school ready to succeed.  Support the conference report on H.R. 1429.

Sincerely,

George Miller                                                                      
Chairman                                                                                
Committee on Education and Labor                                         

Howard P. "Buck" McKeon
Senior Republican Member
Committee on Education and Labor

Dale E. Kildee                                                                                
Chairman                                                                               
Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary,                        
and Secondary Education

Michael N. Castle
Ranking Republican Member
Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary,
and Secondary Education