Today, the Department of Health and Human Services announced important new changes to the Head Start program that build on this Administration’s efforts to improve services for our country’s youngest children.
From the first days of the Administration, Head Start has been at the heart of the President’s early learning agenda. This Administration has more than doubled the number of infants and toddlers in Early Head Start. Recently, the President requested an additional $1.5 billion increase in the Head Start program – the largest proposed funding increase for the program since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – to help ensure every Head Start child can benefit from a full school day and year of high-quality services.
Today’s step is the next in this effort, strengthening Head Start program’s Performance Standards for the next generation of children and families it will serve.