Cost of Meeting House and Senate Proposed Head Start Teacher Qualification Requirements

Publication Date: July 2005

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s): Danielle Ewen

Research Area: Social conditions

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

This analysis provides a preliminary estimate of the necessary level of funding needed to raise the degree qualifications to meet the requirements in the Head Start reauthorization legislation currently proposed in the House and Senate. CLASPÂ’s analysis demonstrates that it will cost at least $2.7 billion over six years to cover the cost of educating the necessary number of teachers in the House bill and raising their compensation to the levels of kindergarten teachers. To pay for the cost of the Senate requirements for increased education and raising compensation, CLASP estimates that it will cost as much as $3.4 billion over six years.