Oppose Head Start Cuts by Congress!

Here is an e-mail I received yesterday regarding Head Start from The National Center for Learning Disabilities. I have put the link to the legislative action center above.

October 31, 2005
Despite being one of the most successful federally funded programs, Head Start, which gets America's poorest children ready to learn in kindergarten and beyond, would be decimated by funding cuts equal to 35,432 fewer classroom slots — including 500 or more in each of 23 states — under a proposed 2 percent reduction in federal discretionary spending, according to the National Head Start Association (NHSA).
These estimates come from the National Head Start Association (NHSA) and are based on the plans unveiled on October 6th by U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R, IL) to cut fiscal year (FY) 2006 spending. Speaker Hastert failed to identify a percentage for the across-the-board cuts, but House staff members have suggested that those cuts would be at least 2 percent, which would mean a cut of $82 million to Head Start and Early Head Start.
NHSA calculates that the effects of a 2 percent cut would result in the equivalent of closing enrollment to at least 35,000 currently served children. Although House leaders did not have the votes to push through a broad-based spending cut, they have vowed to press ahead with the plan.
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) is urging parents, educators and others to visit our Legislative Action center to let Congress know you oppose cutting the equivalent of more than 35,000 existing Head Start slots for America's poorest children.
NCLD recognizes the importance of every young child having the experiences and skills necessary to become a competent reader. NCLD's Get Ready to Read! program has been implemented in Head Start settings across the country. Our partnership with the National Head Start Association helps to ensure our widespread reach to underserved populations. Together, we raise awareness of reading difficulties, learning disabilities, and the importance of early identification and intervention.