Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007

The Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 (H.R. 1429) was a bill in the 110th Congress "to reauthorize the Head Start Act, to improve program quality, to expand access, and for other purposes." (Official title.)

Current status


Bill summary

 * Authorizes $7.35 billion for fiscal year 2008, $7.65 billion for fiscal year 2009, $8.00 billion for fiscal year 2010, and such funds as may be necessary for fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (Sec. 5).


 * Allows Head Start programs to increase the number of participants by 35 percent by including participants whose families' incomes are between 100 and 130 percent of the poverty level, as long as children from families whose income is at or below the poverty level or who are homeless have priority for inclusion in the programs (Sec. 14).


 * States that by 2013, at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers and education coordinators will have a baccalaureate or advanced degree in childhood education and all teaching assistants will have an associate's degree, and that by 2010, all teachers providing direct services to children and families participating in Early Head Start programs (which provide services for children from 0-3 years of age) located in Early Head Start centers have a minimum of a child development associate credential (Sec. 15, Sec. 19).

-Requires that all Head Start teachers attend 15 hours of professional development training per year (Sec. 19).

Key votes

 * Vote to pass a bill that reauthorizes the Head Start Program for five years and makes changes to teacher qualifications and participant eligibility.



Supporters

 * American Civil Liberties Union
 * Anti-Defamation League
 * Catholic Charities USA
 * National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
 * National Council of La Raza
 * National Education Association
 * National School Boards Association
 * Save Head Start