Democratic Legislators Defend Head Start

SOUTH DAKOTA - Four South Dakota Democratic legislators signed a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr., urging him to rescind a proposed rule that would drastically overhaul Head Start, harming children and families and putting a financial burden on states.

Representatives Eric Emery, Erik Muckey, Nicole Uhre-Balk and Kadyn Wittman signed the letter with more than 300 state legislators nationwide. Nearly 4,000 children in South Dakota are enrolled in Head Start. These programs help kids prepare for school and offer health and developmental screenings. These early learning opportunities reach far beyond the classroom, setting kids up for bright futures throughout their lives.

However, these proposed rules by HHS will add burdensome requirements and "diminish the quality, scope, and type of services that Head Start families receive". These changes were created without input from Head Start families, program leaders, local governments or early education experts. The letter also warns of the significant costs that will shift to families as well as state and local governments.

Paid for by the South Dakota Democratic Party | www.sddp.org