From the Office of Utah Congressman Jim Matheson

MATHESON NEWS
Second Congressional District

For Further Information
Alyson Heyrend: (801) 455-5593 (cell)
www.house.gov/matheson

May 2, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Matheson Supports Bipartisan Renewal of Head Start

Raises Concern Regarding Teacher Requirement

Washington D.C .- Congressman Jim Matheson said today Utah's low-income children and their families will have a better chance to succeed in life thanks to legislation that will renew the Head Start program.  Matheson voted for HR 1429-the Improving Head Start Act.

"This program has a proven track record.  Head Start not only helps children get ready for school, it provides important health and nutrition services.  Also, by emphasizing parental involvement, Head Start benefits the entire family," said Matheson.

Begun in 1965, Head Start serves low-income children from birth to five years of age. During the funding year 2006, Utah Head Start programs received more than $37 million and enrolled more than 5,500 children.  It is collaboration between the Utah Department of Health, the Utah State Office of Education, the Utah Department of Workforce Services and many community partners, both public and private.

Matheson said he did have a concern about a provision in the bill which he outlined in a letter to the leaders of the Education and Labor Committee. Matheson said a proposal to require half of all Head Start teachers nationally to have college degrees might hinder hiring by Head Start programs, particularly in rural areas, which already struggle with teacher shortages.

Matheson said he'd work to insure that unintended consequences don't hamper Head Start's success in Utah.

"All it takes is one or two visits to a Head Start classroom to learn how valuable this program is and how children's lives are made better," said Matheson.

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Alyson Heyrend
Communications Director
240 East Morris Ave. #235
South Salt Lake, UT 84115
(801) 486-1236 (phone)
(801) 455-5593 (cell)
(801) 486-1417 (fax)