JACKSON - A program that has provided nutritional, social, emotional and literacy help to more than 20 million needy children nationwide since 1965 is needed in Mississippi and should be funded, state lawmakers say.
State Sen. David Jordan says Head Start is a proven success in Mississippi and was one of several state lawmakers hoping to convince Congress to leave the federally funded program intact.
On Thursday, the Mississippi House and Senate education committees held a hearing at the Capitol to discuss the early childhood program for the poor.
Arvern Moore, head of the Mississippi Head Start Association, said the purpose was to generate statewide support for the reauthorization of the program. Arvern told lawmakers that Head Start serves about 26,740 children in the state, and receives $159 million in federal funding.
The U.S. House in July approved a Republican-backed plan that would reshape Head Start to give states more flexibility in administering the program. It also would allow religious centers to hire people based on their faith, such as a Catholic center that wants to hire only Catholics.
The bill still needs U.S. Senate consideration.
State Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Alice Harden, D-Jackson, said lawmakers and other Head Start supporters should contact congressional leaders to voice concerns.
Rep. Omeria Scott, D-Laurel, said she would introduce a resolution before the beginning of the 2004 Legislature "because to me that's the best way to state our opposition." Scott said she has three Head Start programs in her district.
Jordan, D-Greenwood, said his children participated in the program, and two of them are doctors.
"If that's not a success story, I don't know one," he said. "Why would anyone want to dismantle a program that works and is a success for a segment of people that otherwise wouldn't have an opportunity? They should have seen the state before Head Start. It was worse."
Moore said the Senate is expected to vote on a plan by January.
Neither U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran or Trent Lott, both R-Miss., could be reached for comment Thursday. Cochran has said he opposes giving oversight of Head Start to the state Department of Education.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
