Giving Young Kids A Head Start
Parents trying to hold a job need support to fill the gap before Kindergarten starts so they can work, pay the bills, and keep their kids safe. Kids enrolled in early childhood education programs are healthier and more likely to graduate high school and leave college with a higher-paying career. However, there aren’t enough programs that parents can afford, and families may be forced to work multiple jobs or go into debt to afford care. In a fair market, parents should be able to go to work without going into debt for their childcare. With this policy, more kids can benefit from early childhood learning and more working parents can find childcare they can afford.
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Parents
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Teachers and educators
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Childcare providers
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Employers
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Early childhood advocates
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Public health experts
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Special interests opposed to improving kids’ health, safety, and learning
This act shall be known as the Universal Head Start Act.
This act establishes universal, evidence-based Head Start programs for eligible families.
a) It is the goal of [STATE] to offer evidence-based Head Start and Early Head Start programs universally to eligible families.
b) Accordingly, within 100 days the [Office of Early Childhood or DEPARTMENT] is directed to produce and post publicly a plan to make substantial progress annually over five years toward offering evidence-based Head Start or Early Head Start programs universally to eligible families
c) The plan may include:
i) Expansion of existing Head Start and Early Head Start programs;
ii) Proposed applications for federal and foundation grant funding;
iii) “Pay for Success” social impact bonds;
iv) Any other programs the [Office of Early Childhood or DEPARTMENT] identifies that would result in an efficient expansion of Head Start offerings. The plan should target expansion of Head Start participation by at least 20% per year.
d) The plan should detail which actions the [Office of Early Childhood or DEPARTMENT] can pursue on its own without additional legislative action, and, within 60 days of the plan’s publication, the [Office of Early Childhood or DEPARTMENT] shall commence those programs.
e) For aspects of the plan that would require additional action by the legislature, the [Office of Early Childhood or DEPARTMENT] shall include in the plan specific requests and outlines of legislative action needed, including budget requests.
f) Within 120 days of enactment, the [Office of Early Childhood or DEPARTMENT] shall begin the process to promulgate regulations to establish processes for automatic enrollment in Head Start or Early Head Start programs for eligible families and via visits to a primary care or pediatric doctor, and other medical providers, including through:
i) A checkbox or similar mechanism on the paperwork for annual pediatric exams to [provide their consent to enroll in] Head Start or Early Head Start program.
ii) A checkbox or similar mechanism on the paperwork for eligible long-term foster care and new adoptions for parents and guardians to [provide their consent to enroll in] a Head Start or Early Head Start program.
iii) Following an applicant requesting enrollment under these sections, the [Office of Early Childhood or DEPARTMENT] shall cross-reference existing information to the extent possible to determine eligibility and contact the applicant to discuss any additional informational needs and how to proceed with enrollment if eligible. The [Office of Early Childhood or DEPARTMENT] shall ensure the universal Head Start or Early Head Start program is included within any integrated application process for public services offered by the State.
g) [Office of Early Childhood or DEPARTMENT] shall collaborate with [Dept. of Education] to facilitate greater collaboration between Head Start and Pre-K and Kindergarten programs in the State, including but not limited to school visits and family supports to familiarize families with the public school system, cooperation around records transfers, and programmatic alignment.
h) Definitions
i) A Head Start or Early Head Start program, as defined by the federal Head Start Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Sec. 9801 et seq.).
ii) “Eligible families” means families who are eligible for Head Start services under a service delivery model included in the definition in (i).
i) [State] has a compelling interest in protecting privacy and the protection of personal information. In administering this Act, state and local agencies, businesses, and any other entity, shall only request data necessary to administer this Act and retain it only as required to administer and achieve the purposes of the Act. Any personal information or data collected or obtained in the course of administering this Act shall be shared only in a manner that has been deidentified and aggregated to the greatest extent allowable while still in compliance with federal eligibility requirements and every allowable effort shall be made to revoke access to such data should programs be eliminated or should there be an ineligibility determination. Personal information or data collected or obtained in the course of administering this Act shall not be otherwise disclosed without the informed consent of the individual, a warrant signed by a [state] judge or federal judge, lawful court order administered within [state] or a lawful federal court order, or subpoena administered within [state] or federal subpoena, or unless otherwise required by federal or state statute. Personal information or data may be considered deidentified if it cannot reasonably be used to infer information about, or otherwise be linked to, a particular individual or household.
j) The provisions of this act are severable. If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.
