No Qualms About Head Start
For the first time since 2003, Congress has created a bill to reauthorize the Head Start Program that we, as committed defenders of the separation of church and state, can support. We can finally stand up, as advocates for better educational opportunities for our nation’s low-income children, and champion Head Start’s merits as a multi-faceted and effective program for ending the cycle of poverty in
This week, both the House and Senate are voting on a conference report to reauthorize Head Start. The last reauthorization of this program occurred in 1998 and expired in 2003. In the 108th and 109th Congresses, the bills to reauthorize were stalled over a provision that would have allowed religious groups that sponsor Head Start chapters to discriminate in their hiring. In response, the RAC and other First Amendment defenders were in the unfortunate position of having to oppose the Head Start reauthorization attempts while being outspoken supporters of Head Start’s mission and goals. In the words of Rabbi David Saperstein, "To deny children living in poverty the most qualified teacher in the name of religion is nothing short of an attack on Head Start's core mission-preparing children to succeed in school."
We do not need to have any such qualms about this year’s reauthorization attempt. The language that would have allowed for discrimination on the basis of religion does not appear in the current conference report, which has strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate and is expected to be approved this week. The bill includes an increase in funding by $450 million and increase in the level at which families are eligible from 100% to 130% of the federal poverty level. With these positive advancements to an already wonderful program, supporting Head Start is an easy choice to make.