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August 6, 1992
PRESIDENT BUSH ON HEAD START
"Many children need a Head Start, and we're going to make
sure they get it...[I]n Head Start we found a government
program that works...to strengthen families and
communities for the future."
-- President George Bush
January 21, 1992
Summary: Head Start -- A Program That Works.
o Head Start now provides 622,200 pre-school children from low-
income families with a comprehensive child development
program. Stressing parental involvement, Head Start helps to
meet families' educational, health, nutritional, and social
needs.
o President Bush believes deeply in the values of parental
involvement and volunteerism which Head Start promotes. The
program also reflects his stated goal that, by the year 2000,
all American children will begin school ready to learn.
o Children enrolled in Head Start receive immunizations, medical
and dental care, speech and hearing screening, and social
services. Every program provides at least one meal per
session for enrolled children. A typical program lasts nine
months, with children benefiting from three to four hours of
services each day. It can take place in their homes, at a
central location, or in a combination of sites.
o President Bush has more than doubled Head Start funding. His
Administration has proposed the largest single year funding
increase in Head Start's history -- $600 million -- in his FY
1993 budget. The President also has worked to assure that the
parents of every interested eligible and disadvantaged child
have the opportunity to enroll their child in Head Start for
one year before starting school.
-more-
Fact Sheet: Head Start page 2
President Bush's Initiatives
o The Bush Administration has improved Head Start in numerous
ways during his first term.
-- Increased Funding -- When President Bush took office,
funding appropriated for Head Start was $1.235 billion.
The President proposed increased funding each year, with
the FY 1992 funding totalling $2.2 billion. If Congress
approves his request for next year, funding will increase
another 27%, to $2.8 billion, a 127% increase since the
President took office.
-- Increased Participation -- When President Bush took
office, 448,000 children were enrolled in Head Start.
His funding proposal for next year would enable the
program to serve 157,000 more children than this year,
for a total of 779,200 children -- a record expansion of
74% under President Bush. Over 800,000 Americans also
lent their time last year as Head Start volunteers, and
the President encourages more to do so.
o Increased Effectiveness -- In addition to funding increases,
the President supports initiatives to make Head Start a better
program. These initiatives include:
-- Drug Prevention -- The President's proposed FY 1993
budget includes $30.6 million, $9 million more than this
year, to help Head Start families who face or are at risk
of facing problems stemming from alcohol or drug abuse.
-- Evaluation -- The budget includes $12 million to monitor
the effectiveness of Head Start.
-- Parental Involvement and Support -- The Administration
will continue to support and expand Head Start's new
Family Service Centers, which provide parents with
literacy, job training, and substance abuse prevention
services.
-more-
Fact Sheet: Head Start page 3
-- Easing the Transition -- To assure that Head Start
presents long-term benefits, the Bush Administration is
working to strengthen links between Head Start programs
and the schools Head Start children will enter.
President Bush has awarded $20 million to 32 communities
to develop collaboration strategies between Head Start
and local schools. The Department of Education is
working closely with Head Start to ensure that the
elementary school system builds on the accomplishments of
Head Start.
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