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Bush Signs Library-Friendly Head Start ReauthorizationIn a victory for libraries and the cause of literacy, President Bush December 12 signed the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007. Since 1965, Head Start has provided comprehensive child-development services to millions of low-income children and their families to promote school readiness. The bill, which reauthorizes Head Start for another five years, had passed the House by a vote of 381–36 and the Senate by 95–0 November 14. The American Library Association advocated for language to be included in the bill that provides opportunities for libraries to play a greater role in Head Start programs. That language was included. By recognizing the important role that public and school libraries play in improving literacy and school readiness, the new law authorizes libraries to aid Head Start in “conducting reading readiness programs; developing innovative programs to excite children about the world of books, including providing fresh books in the Head Start classroom; assisting in literacy training for Head Start teachers; [and] supporting parents and other caregivers in literacy efforts.” In a signing statement, Bush said he was concerned that the bill authorized “funding levels higher than proposed in my budget.” He also expressed disappointment that the legislation ended the National Reporting System, “our only tool to examine consistently how Head Start children are performing in programs across the nation.” The NRS was launched in 2002 as a way for Head Start staff to evaluate children’s achievement of school readiness skills. Posted December 14, 2007. |
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