INSIDE WASHINGTON

In a victory for President Bush and the nearly 1 million disadvantaged children in the federal Head Start program, the U.S. House of Representatives tonight passed legislation authored by Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) that would strengthen the academic components of Head Start, improve teacher quality, and allow coordination between Head Start and successful state early childhood programs in up to eight states. The reforms will encourage improvement in the aging federal program and help to close the school readiness gap that continues to exist between Head Start children and their more affluent peers when they reach kindergarten. "The goal of this legislation is to help all young children, no matter what their background, have the chance to reach their potential,” Rep. Castle said. “Improving Head Start by increasing its academic focus will help low-income children succeed when they enter school. The President was right to shine a light on this issue and I am proud that the House has responded to the challenge to strengthen the Head Start program and give children a stronger head start in their lives.” "For the first time in nearly forty years, we are addressing the readiness gap that separates Head Start children from their more advantaged peers," said Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairman John Boehner. "I look forward to the day when these reforms are implemented and we begin to see the impact that this legislation can have on the lives of our most disadvantaged children." [...]