Stuart Opposes Suggested Federal Cuts to Head Start Programs

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.— State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, released the following statement in response to proposed cuts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services aimed at “Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs,” but will effectively reduce the quality of care and support for Head Start programs nationwide:

“Head Start provides multi-generational support, giving every child the opportunity to begin school on a footing equal to their peers who are fortunate to come from more resourced families. I strongly oppose the changes being considered because of the harm it will cause for our most vulnerable children and their families. The changes are not simple administrative measures; these proposed changes oppose the foundational values of the Head Start Program.

“Removing student-to-teacher ratio requirements and maximum classroom sizes will make learning harder for students and education unmanageable for teachers. Removing age appropriate home-language development assistance and eliminating language support in classrooms makes language unattainable for students. These aren’t ‘cost saving initiatives,’ these are initiatives to undermine and dismantle Head Start programs.

“America should strive to be a country where every child— regardless of where they live, the language spoken in their home, the structure of the family that is raising them, or the amount of money the family has— can access high-quality early education opportunities in order to thrive and succeed. The attempts to change this are cruel and seem designed to maintain children, especially poor children or those with special needs, in a cycle of poverty. For these reasons, I respectfully request that the proposed changes to Head Start regulations are not enacted.”

You can leave a public comment on the proposed changes to Head Start here.