    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [December 12, 2007]
    [Page 1541]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act
    of 2007
    December 12, 2007

        Today I signed into law the ``Improving Head Start for School
    Readiness Act of 2007,'' a bill to reauthorize Head Start. Over the past
    40 years, Head Start has provided comprehensive child development
    services to more than 20 million low-income children and their families
    to promote school readiness. Because of the National Reporting System,
    we know that more Head Start programs are helping children gain early
    reading and math skills. But we must take steps to improve Head Start to
    ensure that low-income children arrive at school ready to learn.
        I am pleased that this bill addresses several longstanding
    administration priorities, such as increased competition among Head
    Start providers, improved coordination of early childhood delivery
    systems, and stronger educational performance standards. Increasing
    competition for providers will help ensure that we offer the highest
    quality programs to our Nation's most vulnerable young children. Greater
    collaboration among Head Start agencies, schools, and other programs
    serving young children will help ensure our investments are better
    aligned and more effective. Stronger educational performance standards
    and an emphasis on research-based curricula and classroom practices will
    increase children's preparedness for school. I also support the bill's
    provisions to strengthen fiscal accountability and program oversight, so
    that dollars intended to serve children are spent wisely.
        I am, however, deeply disappointed that the bill ends the National
    Reporting System, our only tool to examine consistently how Head Start
    children are performing in programs across the Nation. We should be
    working to provide more and better data to parents, teachers, and
    policymakers, not less. I am concerned that the bill authorizes spending
    levels higher than those proposed in my budget. Approval of this
    legislation is not an endorsement of these funding levels or a
    commitment to request them. I am also disappointed that the bill fails
    to include my proposal to protect faith-based organizations' religious
    hiring autonomy.
        I thank Members of both parties in Congress who worked on this
    legislation. I will continue to work with Congress to ensure that our
    neediest children are prepared for success in school and a lifetime of
    achievement.

    Note: H.R. 1429, approved December 12, was assigned Public Law No. 110-
    134.