Meeks on EducationPart III- An Open Letter about Head Start

During the last two weeks, I have provided commentary about the current state of education as it impacts the children of this nation. Today, I would like to continue my commentary and discuss the Head Start program.

As many of you may know, for almost 40 years, Head Start has assisted low-income preschool children and their families. This program has a proven record of success. Studies show that:
Head Start narrows the gap between disadvantaged children and other children in vocabulary, writing skills, and social behavior;
Head Start children are less likely to repeat a grade, require special education, or be convicted of a crime;
Head Start children show IQ gains compared to low-income children who are not in the program;
Head Start children are more likely to graduate from high school and college.

This program not only benefits the nations children as a whole, but specifically 1,306 children who reside in the 6th Congressional District of New York. There are 10 Head Start centers in the district, with a total of 61 classrooms. 1,298 of these children have received appropriate preventive and primary health care, including all appropriate tests and physical examinations. Head Start also provides significant assistance to children in obtaining dental care. All 1,304 children have a continuous, accessible source of dental care, and 99% have completed a dental exam. Children in Head Start in the 6th Congressional District are more than twice as likely to receive basic medical care and over 4 times as likely to receive basic dental care compared to other low-income children. As you can see, the overwhelming impact Head Start has on the 6th Congressional District is tremendous and I continue to fight against the reduction or elimination of the comprehensive services that are provided to children in Head Start.

Soon, children in the 6th Congressional District will enter their Head Start classrooms counting on all of us to ensure that their needs are met. As in the last two articles, I challenge our community to keep its eyes and ears open as these children head back to school on September 8th. It is up to us to ensure that they receive the proper tools to be successful in life.

Should you need to contact me on this issue or any other, please do so at 718.949.5600