AFT advocacy yields landmark law 

Frontline teachers took their concerns directly to Congress this fall and helped secure unprecedented bipartisan support for a landmark Head Start reauthorization bill.

AFT local leader and Head Start teacher Tanya Allen appeared at a news conference the eve of the historic vote in Congress to urge legislators to support more funding of key education programs. Allen, president of the Paterson Early Childhood Federation of Teachers and a teacher at Concerned Parents for Head Start, a Head Start agency in Paterson, N.J., told reporters that "education must remain at the top of the funding list-and this must start with adequate funding for high-quality early education programs like Head Start."

Her message came through a few days later when, after a five-year debate, both the House and Senate overwhelmingly approved the Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007. Not only does the bill include many provisions to promote professional development and qualifications for Head Start teachers, including funding for staff training and education, it also expands the program's income eligibility so that more 3- and 4-year-olds can be served. The bill, which passed by 381-36 in the House and 95-0 in the Senate, also encourages growth of Early Head Start by targeting more resources to infants and toddlers.

The AFT supports the appropriations bill, noting that some programs which have been underfunded in recent years need urgent attention. Head Start in this bill receives an increase, for example, which will counteract the significant cuts in the program in past years that has resulted in centers being unable to serve all eligible children, says the AFT.

"The $200 million in increased [authorization] for Head Start included in the bill we are highlighting today sends a clear signal to people like me in the field that Congress understands the importance of early childhood education," said Allen. For many years, actual budget outlays for Head Start have been woefully inadequate. The AFT continues to work with other education groups to build on the momentum behind the Head Start reauthorization bill so that future spending for Head Start lives up to the promise detailed in the latest authorization.