Head Start Squeezed in Deficit-Reduction Battle

Head Start, the federal early-education program for children from low-income families, is facing significant budget cuts as Congress seeks to trim spending to reduce the nation’s deficit, reports The New York Times.

Republicans say they are concerned that Head Start has not been very effective.

Joe Kasper, the policy director for Rep. Duncan Hunter, the California Republican who chairs the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, says, “The program has benefited from sizable increases in federal funding in recent years, all while the program continues to significantly underperform in certain aspects.”

But not all Republicans are lined up against Head Start, which is very popular with constituents.

Even so, Democrats find themselves forced to defend the effectiveness of Head Start and other social progams. Meanwhile, even if deep cuts are made, that will do little to close the deficit. Says Sen. Charles Schumer, Democrat of New York: “We don’t face the current deficit because of Head Start.”