[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 77 (Thursday, May 22, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1052-E1053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 2210, THE SCHOOL READINESS ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN A. BOEHNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2003

  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker I am pleased to have the opportunity to 
congratulate the Gentleman from Delaware, Mr. Castle, on the 
introduction of the School Readiness Act of 2003, which reauthorizes 
the Head Start program. This legislation demonstrates a tremendous 
commitment to strengthening Head Start. It represents a great 
accomplishment not only for Mr. Castle, but for disadvantaged children 
and their families from across this nation.
  As many of you know, President Bush's biggest domestic priority has 
consistently been education reform. In his State of the Union address 
in January 2002 the President outlined his plan (known as the Good 
Start, Grow Smart initiative) for ensuring that children are prepared 
to read and succeed in school. This proposal focused on strengthening 
Head Start, increasing partnerships with States, and providing 
information to teachers, caregivers and parents. The Bush 
Administration's proposal laid the foundation for many of the reforms 
in this legislation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank 
President Bush for his leadership on this issue.
  I think we all recognize that Head Start is a great program that has 
helped millions of low-income children access the resources they need 
in order to help them succeed in school and later in life. I was 
troubled to learn, however, that while children in Head Start show 
improvement when compared to other disadvantaged children who are not 
enrolled in the program those same children are still far behind their 
more advantaged peers when it comes time to enter school. The School 
Readiness Act of 2003 will address this ``readiness gap'' in much the 
same way that the No Child Left Behind Act addressed the ``achievement 
gap'' between low income and middle class students.
  I am particularly pleased that this legislation increases Head 
Start's emphasis on school readiness allows us to align the goals of 
Head Start with recent reforms of K-12 education, while continuing to 
maintain the comprehensive services that are provided by the program. 
The No Child Left Behind Act made it clear that children should be 
reading successfully by the end of the 3rd grade. The School Readiness 
Act of 2003 makes it clear that Head Start should be providing 
economically disadvantaged children with the opportunity to enter 
school with the literacy, pre-reading, and pre-math skills that are 
essential for success in school.
  I am also pleased that the School Readiness Act of 2003 focuses on 
improving teacher quality in Head Start. Research has demonstrated that 
having a well qualified teacher in the classroom is one of the best 
predictors of student success. This is why the School Readiness Act of 
2003 requires 100 percent of all new Head Start teachers to have at 
least an Associates Degree in early childhood education or a related 
field within three years. The legislation also requires 50 percent of 
Head Start teachers nationwide to hold at least a Bachelors Degree in 
early childhood education or a related field by 2008.

[[Page E1053]]

  In order to provide an incentive for states to continue investing in 
early childhood education, the School Readiness Act of 2003 also 
creates a state demonstration project that allows a limited number of 
states to voluntarily apply for and receive the option of coordinating 
Head Start programs with their own early childhood education programs, 
in exchange for an agreement to maintain or expand funding for early 
childhood education. This state demonstration project would be limited 
to states with a demonstrated investment in early childhood education 
and an established, pre-existing preschool system. Participating states 
would be barred from making funding cuts to early childhood education 
programs as a condition of their participation. Current Head Start 
grantees in participating states would be guaranteed funding during the 
first year of implementation of the demonstration project. In addition, 
States would be strongly encouraged to continue utilizing current 
service providers that have demonstrated the capacity to provide high 
quality Head Start services consistent with State guidelines for school 
preparedness for children entering kindergarten.
  I am confident that this type of state control and collaboration will 
allow states to increase all-day Head Start classes, better coordinate 
state pre-school programs with Head Start, and improve the alignment of 
Head Start instruction with state K-12 standards. These types of 
reforms will not only improve the school readiness of participating 
children, but will also allow States that are held accountable for 
student performance under the No Child Left Behind Act to have the 
opportunity to do everything possible to ensure that their students 
succeed.
  Once again, I would like to congratulate Mr. Castle on the 
introduction of this legislation. I look forward to working with him, 
and other members of the House, as we continue our efforts to 
strengthen Head Start and ensure that our nation's neediest children 
are prepared to succeed in school.

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