By Crystal D. Swann
October 3, 2005

Congressman John A. Boehner’s successful inclusion of an amendment that would allow faith-based charities that operate Head Start programs to consider religion as a factor in hiring decisions all but guarantees a tough road in the Senate for the reauthorization of the nations’ premier early childhood development program.

On September 22, the House passed by a vote of 231-184, H.R. 2123, a bill to reauthorize the Head Start early-childhood development program. H.R. 2123 is the “School Readiness Act of 2005,” a bill that would reauthorize the Head Start program through fiscal 2011. It would authorize $6.8 billion for the program in fiscal 2006. It would reserve 5 percent of the annual total Head Start funds for migrant and seasonal Head Start programs. Half of all Head Start teachers would be required to have at least a bachelor’s degree by 2011. The bill would authorize the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) to conduct unscheduled reviews of Head Start programs and allow HHS to contract out monitoring activities to third parties.

Congressional staff worked in a bipartisan way to craft legislation that would be acceptable to both parties. Although stumbling blocks remain such as the H.R. 2123 does not increase teacher salaries while imposing more stringent accountability and educational credentialing for teachers. But many agree that the faith-based language poses a serious problem. Many advocates view the inclusion of the faith-based language as unnecessary since over 114 faith-based organizations already administer Head Start programs nationwide without changes to the legislation.

The Senate companion bill, S. 1107, does not include the religious organizations language and a scheduled mark up for that bill isn’t anticipated until late October.