[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 2015)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 29525-29526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12574]



[[Page 29523]]

Vol. 80

Thursday,

No. 98

May 21, 2015

Part VI





The President





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Proclamation 9284--50th Anniversary of Head Start



Notice of May 19, 2015--Continuation of the National Emergency With 
Respect to the Stabilization of Iraq
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  Federal Register / Vol. 80 , No. 98 / Thursday, May 21, 2015 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

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                Proclamation 9284 of May 18, 2015

                
50th Anniversary of Head Start

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Supporting our children in their earliest years with 
                high-quality care and education is one of the best 
                investments we can make as a Nation--and for 50 years, 
                Head Start has helped to lift up millions of America's 
                children and their families in communities across our 
                country. The oldest and largest Federal program to 
                deliver high-quality early learning opportunities to 
                low-income children, Head Start was founded on the idea 
                that every child--no matter who they are, what they 
                look like, or where they grow up--deserves the chance 
                to reach their full potential. Since 1965, it has given 
                meaning to the simple truth that in America, where you 
                start should not determine how far you can go.

                In the last half-century, Head Start has served 32 
                million children, supporting them in every aspect of 
                their development--from early learning and health and 
                nutrition to social and emotional well-being. Designed 
                to cultivate original ideas and innovative approaches 
                to preparing children for success later in school and 
                in life, Head Start has pioneered new solutions to 
                fight the harmful effects of poverty and build ladders 
                of opportunity into the middle class. In small towns 
                and large cities--in America's immigrant communities 
                and with migrant and seasonal families, faith-based 
                communities, and tribal leaders--Head Start programs 
                and providers empower children and their families to 
                foster positive parent-child relationships, to reach 
                for economic and family stability, and to make 
                important connections to their peers and their 
                communities.

                During a critical period in a child's life, Head Start 
                sets our Nation's young people on the path to success. 
                We know that investments in early childhood education 
                boost graduation rates, increase earnings, and reduce 
                violent crime. And 3- and 4-year-olds who attend high-
                quality preschool--including Head Start--are less 
                likely to repeat a grade, less likely to need special 
                education, and more likely to graduate from high 
                school. This head start in life leaves a lasting impact 
                on our students and fuels their curiosity, helping them 
                to grow up with a passion for learning, a fair shot at 
                good-paying jobs, and a more secure future.

                This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Early Head 
                Start, created to enhance the impact of Head Start by 
                serving children from birth to age 3, as well as 
                expectant mothers--ensuring all children receive the 
                best care possible. This expansion has made a real 
                difference for thousands of infants, toddlers, and 
                their families. As President, I have endeavored to 
                strengthen Head Start and build on its legacy. My 
                Administration has expanded the program to reach tens 
                of thousands of additional children and families in the 
                depth of the economic recession. We have instituted 
                reforms to raise the standards and focus on improving 
                outcomes across Head Start programs and classrooms, so 
                that children and families can rely on the highest 
                quality of services. And we have launched new ways to 
                build connections between Early Head Start and 
                America's child care subsidy system to reach additional 
                infants and toddlers in need of high-quality early care 
                and education. We will continue to invest in Head Start

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                and strive to expand its reach to additional children 
                and families throughout America. Our children deserve 
                nothing less.

                Despite five decades of tremendous success, too many 
                young people still grow up without access to a world-
                class education. Instead of receiving a head start in 
                life, they start out a step behind. As a Nation, we 
                must continue our work to ensure the promise of 
                education is within reach for all our daughters and 
                sons. That is why I have proposed a series of new 
                investments that will establish a continuum of high-
                quality early learning for every child, beginning at 
                birth and continuing to age 5. This year, I unveiled a 
                plan that would make quality child care available to 
                every middle-class and low-income family with young 
                children under the age of 3. I have also called on the 
                Congress to expand access to high-quality preschool and 
                full-day kindergarten for every child in America. And I 
                am calling on all Americans--including leaders of 
                private and philanthropic organizations, communities, 
                and governments at every level--to make their own 
                commitments to our children, an effort that has already 
                led to an investment of more than $1 billion to support 
                our next generation of thinkers, dreamers, and doers.

                The history of Head Start has taught us that if our 
                Nation invests in the future of all our children, we 
                can strengthen our economy, bolster our communities, 
                and give every young person the chance to build a 
                better life. As we mark the 50th anniversary of Head 
                Start, let us rededicate ourselves to building an 
                education system worthy of our daughters' and sons' 
                enormous potential, and to providing a strong, healthy, 
                and safe head start in life for all of America's 
                children.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim May 18, 2015, as the 
                50th Anniversary of Head Start. I call upon all 
                Americans to observe this day with appropriate 
                ceremonies and activities that recognize the importance 
                of this vital program and support high-quality 
                education for all Americans.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2015-12574
Filed 5-20-15; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F5