Stivers proposes bipartisan bill to expand Head Start

U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) on Aug. 4 introduced a bipartisan bill that would expand access to full-day, full-year Head Start programs and enhance the quality of programs that already offer such services.

“#HeadStart has transformed lives, and we need to keep it up. That’s why I joined Rep. Marcia Fudge to introduce the Head Start Extended Duration Grants Act,” Rep. Stivers posted Tuesday on Facebook.

The congressman joined U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) to introduce the bill. Head Start includes comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and other services for children ages newborn to five-years-old, primarily from lower-income families.

“Education has, and will, continue to look different in communities across the country, but what won’t change is the vital need for kids to receive a strong educational foundation,” said Rep. Stivers. “I’m proud to support full-day expansion of Head Start because every child deserves access to the tools they need to create a bright future.”

If enacted, the grants authorized under this bill would support early childhood education through funding for Head Start programs to hire staff; provide full-time, full-year programming; supply classroom materials; and integrate training for current teachers, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Stivers’ office.

Additionally, the measure would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to report to Congress on the impact of such funding, including how funds helped expand access to more service hours for migrant and seasonal Head Start agencies, and how funding helped enhance the quality of existing Head Start services, among other items, according to the bill summary.

“The Head Start Extended Duration Grants Act will help Head Start programs offer more hours of service without reducing the number of children they serve,” said Rep. Fudge. “As programs work to reopen safely, extended duration grants will also help to support Head Start teachers and uplift vulnerable children and families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”