States May Get Bigger Role in Head Start

President Bush plans to give governors more say over the federal Head Start program so they can coordinate similar education efforts in their states, aides said Friday.

Bush’s policy, to be unveiled in his budget Monday, would let states align their own preschool programs with Head Start, which prepares poor children for kindergarten.

In many cases, federal and state early education programs are not in sync, officials said.

“If we’re going to hold governors accountable for all children reading on grade level by third grade, there needs to be more state interest and involvement for the kids most at risk,” a senior administration official said.

States would be required to work with public schools to shape training and standards for teachers and children. No cuts in service would be allowed for children enrolled in Head Start.

The plans would be submitted for approval to the secretaries of the Education and Health and Human Services departments.

Bush will propose shifting Head Start from Health and Human Services to the Education Department over the next fiscal year, which begins in October.

Administration officials portrayed the proposal as a natural sequel to Bush’s 2001 education initiative, the “No Child Left Behind” law that sets up new systems for testing and accountability in America’s public schools. The changes must be approved by Congress.

Head Start has long been seen as the nation’s leading preschool program for the poor. It is designed to help children and their families prepare for school academically, but also sends them to the dentist, doctor or mental-health professional, or teaches them how to hold a fork or use a toilet.

Critics said the changes proposed for the 38-year-old program would be costly and could undermine the provision of health and social services.

They also said that in tight economic times, states may be tempted to use the money for other things.

“Head Start is not just an early education program, it is a family support program,” said Samuel Meisels, president of the Erikson Institute, a nonprofit organization that trains child-development professionals. “And we will lose the family support.”

Some state government officials said they could not comment on the proposed changes to Head Start because they had not been informed of the specifics by the White House.