"Head Start programs provide critical support for children in their formative years, including education, nutrition, and health care. The grant will help give children a leg up early on in their school years," said the Senators in a joint statement. "It is important that we provide tribes with the same educational opportunities as are available in the surrounding communities. We are pleased that federal Head Start administrators have recognized the success of the program run by the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and provided them with this amount of continuing support."
The grant is budgeted for a 12-month period. Head Start provides child development, educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services to low-income preschool-aged children to help them prepare to enter kindergarten.
Senators Snowe and Collins are long-time supporters of Head Start and have worked in the U.S. Senate to increase funding for the program.
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