Statement by President Obama
For
millions of families, Head Start has been a lifeline. And for millions
of kids, it’s been the start of a better life. Over the past half
century, 32 million children have benefited from its
early learning and development programs. They’ve recited their numbers
and ABCs, raced around playgrounds, and learned thousands of new
words. On this 50th anniversary, our challenge is to make Head Start even stronger, and to help more children
and family benefit from its good work. My Administration
has increased access to Head Start programs, and we’ve launched a new
partnership with child care centers to reach tens of thousands more
infants
and toddlers. Plus, a growing number
of states and cities are taking steps to boost access to quality preschool. Now we need Congress to give Head Start the resources to
reach more eligible kids. And we need leaders at every level – including in our states and communities – to support Head Start, because
early childhood education is one of the smartest investments we can make to keep America strong and competitive in the 21st century.
Thank you to
everyone who has contributed to the success of Head Start over the past
50 years. Now, let’s make sure we keep serving families for the next 50
years – and beyond. Because here in America, every
child – no matter what they look like, where they come from, or who
they are – deserves to get a head start in life.
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