DeLauro Celebrates the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Launch of Head Start

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the launch of Head Start:

“Head Start brings together what matters most to young children: education, health, emotional wellbeing, nutrition and social services. Instead of treating children as isolated individuals, Head Start embraces whole families, involving parents in making sure their kids are ready to learn.

“Head Start is the most effective early childhood development program our country has ever developed. It has served 30 million children and counting. We know that our Head Start graduates are less likely to need special education services, to be held back a grade, or to get into trouble with the law. And they are more likely to go to college and have professional careers. Head Start graduates are tomorrow’s doctors, scientists, teachers, engineers, and political leaders.

“That is why this program is so close to my heart. From watching, playing with and reading to my own grandchildren, I know how formative the earliest of experiences can be. There is no better way to spend our education dollars than to fund early childhood development.”

DeLauro is the senior Democrat on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees our nation’s investments in early education programs, including Head Start. Since 2010, she has been instrumental in increasing Head Start’s budget by nearly $1.4 billion, or 19 percent.

Head Start has served over 30 million children and their families in urban and rural areas all over the country. Head Start promotes school readiness of young children from low-income families through partnerships in their local community. Head Start services are responsive to each child and family's ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage.


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