If Maine wants to improve its economy and decrease the number of people living in poverty, it should invest in something that will draw a return: its children. Providing early childhood programs for low-income working families benefits not just children and parents but ultimately their communities.
It’s unfortunate that the Maine Legislature cut funding this spring for child care programs like Head Start, which is a federally and state funded provider of education services for at-risk children ages 0 to 5. The effects are already being felt, as child care professional positions are eliminated and enrollment openings slashed. It’s estimated 200-250 children will be pushed out of the program.
But the Legislature and Gov. Paul LePage can learn from their mistakes. They should restore funding when they develop the next state budget.
More than restore the $2 million — which represented nearly half of Head Start’s state funding and 6 percent of its overall funding — the state has the ability to make the program great. It has the power to reduce the number of children on waiting lists and grow its Early Head Start programs that serve children prenatal to three years old, which is when the foundation is built for lifelong learning.
There are many reasons why Head Start and similar programs should be expanded. It allows parents — 70 percent of whom are working or in school — to maintain their livelihoods. It permits them to save money and be more productive.
Head Start provides for vulnerable populations. In 2009-10, almost 20 percent of Maine children enrolled in Head Start had a diagnosed disability. And service to homeless families has increased, from 269 homeless families in 2009 to 370 in 2010.
Community members demonstrate their commitment to the program through their volunteer hours and donations. More than 5,835 people volunteered at Maine Head Start programs in the 2009-10 school year. That’s more than the number of children, which reached 3,819. All programs must generate a local match of 25 percent to their federal grant money, which is done through donations and in-kind contributions.
There are long-term benefits. Education economics professor W. Steven Barnett and human development professor Jason Hustedt have examined the body of research on the effectiveness of Head Start. Though more could be known about the full range of benefits, they determined, quality studies show that the program aids educational achievement, future employment and social behavior. Head Start helps ready children for kindergarten, and at least some of the educational benefits are sustained over time.
Gov. Paul LePage and Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen have the right idea when they say they want to focus on programs that help individual students succeed. Cuts to Head Start don’t help them fulfill their goals. If the state wants to improve academic achievement and help build a more productive, educated workforce, part of the solution involves investing in toddlers.
Excellent editorial. I hope LePage and Bowen take the advice and correct their previous mistakes.
Taxpayer sponsored daycare
HHS has finally released
the second installment of its series of studies on the persistence of
Head Start effects. Its finding (see page xiv): virtually all academic
effects disappear by the end of 1st grade. There is only one positive
statistically significant finding out of eleven academic outcomes
measured, the size of that effect is minuscule by recognized standards
(it’s half way between zero and what most social scientists consider
“small”), and the confidence in the finding is low by recognized
standards. (Many authors would categorize it as “insignificant” rather
than “significant” — it’s only significant at a 90% confidence interval,
not the more common 95% confidence interval).
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/impact_study/reports/impact_study/executive_summary_final.pdf
When the editorial staff has to tap dance around this, you know it’s a hard stretch.
For the record, I support Head Start…but let’s not say it does what it doesn’t.
Very interesting.
Thanks.
There is absolutely no better investment than in a child. It’s criminal that these programs are cut in any way. These precious children need every bit of help we can give them, they are our future and DESERVE the best start in life!
Every bit of help we can give them…no matter how ineffective it is? Obama’s own studies show no lasting effect from Head Start.
http://blog.heritage.org/2010/01/14/long-overdue-head-start-evaluation-shows-no-lasting-benefit-for-children/
Success depends on how determined the child’s family is to get out of poverty.
I think all children should have the opportunity, not just certain families. I think it should be available to all kids. Other kids could be at risk too.
Head Start research doesn’t support the conclusions drawn here. While I would support pre-school, it should be with very well trained early childhood specialists. Currently that is NOT the case.
It is benefitial to reevaluate taxpayer supported programs from time to time. Head Start is now almost 50-years-old, and we still have a siginificant portion of our society living in poverty. It is evident to me that throwing money at problems has failed to eliminate or even move the needle much.
I would agree that children need a significant investment. After all they will be paying our social security, medicare, and all the debts we have racked up over the last 25 years.
Posters have several good suggestions here and I want to repeat them;
Make the program available to all regardless of income.
Hire early childhood professionals. Lay people are not going to be equipped to deal with the enormous obsticals faced by young children and their families today.
Continue to re-evaulate the program yearly. Don’t let the people who are getting the childcare money do the evaluations.
Finally the fact that FAMILIES not programs are the chief archeticts of a child’s success or failures should be universally recognized. Without strong family involvement no program in early childhood will succeed.
Looking at the comments listed below really shows how ignorant and ill informed people are. 1. Head Start teachers are trained !! Did you know that most teachers have a Bachelor’s Degree and working with Head Start because they believe in the program !! 2. If you knew anything about Head Start you would know that the agencies have to follow rigid program standards. 3. Head Start is a federally funded program that is evaluated triannually by the Federal Government. 4. I am a Head Start teacher who has been working with the program for 10 years now and “I” believe “Children are our future”.
So you are one of those teachers doing glorified day care.