Head Start funding moves through House

Monday the House signed off on a bill that would give the federal Head Start program, which takes aim at giving poor and at-risk children a leg-up before they start kindergarten, additional funding that would allow the program to serve another 100 students throughout the state.

Rep. Lou Shurtliff, D-Ogden, said Head Start programs don't just help students but help parents the teach children along with offering nutritional, social and health services.

"The goal is to assist families in teaching self-sufficiency and how to become contributing members of society," Shurtliff said.

Utah is one of the few states that do not sponsor early education. Head Start has been providing much of Utah's pre-K programs, serving over 5,500 students statewide. Even so there is currently a waiting list of around 900 students who could potentially be starting school without engaging in any school preparation or even seeing a doctor.

Under HB330, the state would give $700,000 to Head Start enabling the program to serve an additional 100 students.

"We can send a resounding message from this body saying that we care about these particular students in these particular areas," said Rep. Brad Dee, R-Washington Terrace. "It will rescue 100 more of our children."