[A CA Guy]

Almost only Spanish only speakers use this program in CA, so it is in some way an illegals baby sitting service. Hope the Democrats don't wiggle this into politics, because this is nothing compared to the cuts that need to be IMO.

[lonestar]

IIRC Headstart was one of the War on Poverty programs.

If it is so great, let churches provide headstarts in their idle-during-the-week tax-free church buildings.

[latina4dubya]

my son, whom we adopted when he was five-years old, was in the Head Start program... here in the Central Valley there were plenty of kids in it who were not Spanish speaking... when we met with his teachers during the adoption process, we learned that the program was mainly there to feed the kids... they did some learning, some sing-alongs and such... some playing... but there was no real concern for children who were not learning the basics--getting a "head start," before entering kindergarten... our son was five and did not know more than two colors, could not count to three and did not know the alphabet... after living with us for six weeks, he could count to 15, knew a plethora of colors and shapes and could recite the alphabet...

the program did not accomplish what was intended: giving disadvantage kids a "head start" before entering kindergarten... but i am surprised it's going away!

[napscoordinator]

There is no reason for this program. Kids start going to Day Care Schools at the age of six weeks and attend until they begin Kindergarten. Head Start was a program that began well before Day Care Centers were common place. Basically Head Start has overstayed it usefulness. Good riddance.

[EDINVA]

I refuse to give the LAT a hit, so didn’t read the article, but it seems strange that a federal program would close down so quickly and in only one state. Much less this time of year relative to the regular school year. Are they talking about it re the ‘government shut down’ that may or may not happen?

[Uncle Miltie]

Head Start has been proved a failure by every study since its inception.

Good riddance. What a waste of hard earned taxpayer cash.

[30Moves]

A recent study showed that only 1 in 44 kids actually benefited from Head Start.

Star Parker said she used to drop her kids off at Head Start, cash her welfare checks then go shopping. What a life!