Senators Feinstein and Voinovich Introduce Legislation to Expand Loan Forgiveness Program to Head Start Teachers

Senators Feinstein and Voinovich Introduce Legislation to Expand
Loan Forgiveness Program to Head Start Teachers
January 10, 2003

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and George Voinovich (R-OH) today introduced legislation to expand the federal loan forgiveness program to include Head Start teachers. The current program allows elementary and secondary school teachers to have up to $5,000 of their student loans forgiven in exchange for 5 years of teaching.

"The loan forgiveness incentives in this bill are meant to encourage recent graduates, current Head Start teachers without a degree, and college students to enter and remain in the Head Start field," Senator Feinstein said. "In exchange for 5 years of service, a Head Start teacher or administrator could have up to $5,000 of their federal Stafford Loan forgiven."

"Ensuring that our nation's youngster have access to highly educated and qualified teachers should be a priority of this Congress. But this is just a first step. I believe we must continue to look for ways to improve the Head Start program so that children leave the program able to count to ten, to have sizes and colors, and can begin to recite the alphabet - just to name a few indicators of cognitive learning."

Several studies confirm the importance of providing low-income children with the opportunity early on to gain basic cognitive skills:

A study conducted on a preschool program in Chicago showed that for every dollar invested, $8 was saved by society in projected costs. Additionally, 26 percent more children were likely to finish high school and 40 percent were less likely to repeat a grade.

The National Head Start Association found that for every dollar invested in Head Start, at least $2.50 is saved because these children need less remedial education and are less likely to be on welfare programs or involved with the juvenile justice system than non-Head Start peers.

Nationwide, only 22 percent of Head Start teachers have completed a baccalaureate or advanced degree program. In California, that number is even smaller - approximately 16 percent of Head Start teachers have completed a bachelor's degree.

The Senate approved this measure as part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) by a vote of 76-24 in the last Congress. However, the provision was not included in the legislation signed into law by President Bush.