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Committee lays over bill seeking $15 million per year boost for Head Start
Summary
Representative Hicks presented House File 1002 to increase state support for Head Start programs by $15 million per year for the next biennium; committee laid the bill over and heard testimony from Head Start directors and families about program impacts.
Rep. Hicks presented House File 1,002 seeking an additional $15 million annually for Head Start programs in the next biennium, describing Head Start as a "child welfare prevention program" that provides education, meals, health services and family supports.
Sandy Symar, Head Start director for Freeborn and Olmsted Counties, said local programs serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers and pregnant mothers and that programs use authentic child assessment data to tailor services, provide transportation and summer boosts for children who need extra dosage, and support parents toward education and employment goals. "This funding would allow us to serve those children on the wait list," Symar told the committee, noting her program serves about 503 children across infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
An online testifier, Amanda Mata, a parent, described the family benefits she and her four children received from Head Start and urged more funding so more families can participate.
Nonpartisan staff reported a current base state funding amount for Head Start of $34,398,000 annually. Craig Grodke, executive director of the Minnesota Head Start Association, described federal funding uncertainties and staffing reductions at the federal level; he said grantees are preparing for potential federal reductions that could increase state needs. The committee laid House File 1,002 over for possible inclusion.
