WHEREAS:
Head Start is our nation’s premier comprehensive early learning program that helps low-income children arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed. It combines early education, health care, social services and nutrition services with a strong focus on parent involvement and support, and builds on the strengths of local communities; and
WHEREAS:
The 2007 Head Start Reauthorization Act requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement new rules requiring all Head Start grantees that fail to meet a new set of rigorous quality benchmarks to compete for continued federal funding; and
WHEREAS:
Any low-performing Head Start grantee will have to compete if they have deficiencies in their onsite review, fail to establish and use school-readiness goals for children, or demonstrate low performance in the classroom quality evaluation; and
WHEREAS:
HHS estimates that one-third of all 1,600 grantees will be required to recompete for continued funding; and
WHEREAS:
The first round of competition has begun. Of the 162 Head Start grantees that will be required to compete for continued funding in the first round, AFSCME locals represent seven grantees in five states; and
WHEREAS:
Any change in grantees has major implications for AFSCME members working in Head Start programs as well as the children and parents involved in the programs; and
WHEREAS:
Grantees may use the competition process as an excuse to attempt to reduce wages and benefits; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME supports high program standards and works with employers to ensure that high quality programs are provided to low-income families, but also recognizes that quality programs need adequate funding; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME affiliates can partner with community or public entities that are competing to maintain a grant or applying to take over an existing program.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will work to ensure that the competition process is fair and transparent and will keep affiliates informed about the process; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will seek to increase federal funding for Head Start so that Head Start workers and grantees can work together with adequate resources to carry out the quality measures required by the statute; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will work with affiliates to prevent grantees from reducing wages and benefits under the guise of being competitive; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME affiliates will work with grantees, applicants, community groups or local governments in the competition process to support applicants that provide high-quality programs in partnership with their unions.
SUBMITTED BY:
Betty Powell, President and Delegate
Carolyn Cox, Vice President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 95, District Council 1707
New York