Community action groups are urging Gov. Bob Taft and the General Assembly not to restructure Head Start in Ohio.

The Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies, the Ohio Head Start Association, the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development and the Ohio Urban Resource Systems want Taft to abandon the ‘Head Start Plus’ model set to be implemented in July 2004.

The new model removes some of the standards that are part of Head Start, Executive Director of OACAA Philip Cole said.

Rochelle Twining, executive director of Lima-Allen Community Action Agency, said: “The Taft Administration’s proposed Head Start Plus program compromises many key standards that have made Head Start a success.”

“Under Governor Voinovich, Ohio served over 22,000 low-income children and families through the state-funded program,” Twining said. “Because of budget cuts, that number has dropped to 11,600 three and four-year-olds in the current program year and is scheduled to drop to 4,000 children in 2004-2005.”

The new program involves reducing some of the standards and switching to daycare, which could require a co-pay.

An alternative proposal to the Taft Administration’s plan was created by Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who is also a democratic presidential candidate.

The OACAA based their alternative proposal on Kerry’s program, which calls for 13,300 kids to be served, said Dave Rinebolt, the legislative liaison for the OACAA. “That’s 700 kids less than the administration’s proposal, but with higher quality as opposed to quantity.”

It is getting to the point that Head Start is getting dismantled, State Rep. Dan Stewart said.

“Politicians are pulling a bait and switch that will cost the tax payers dollars. Head Start saves money in K-12 education,” he said.

Rinebolt said the Taft Administration’s removal of any standards undermines the Head Start program.

“For it to be called Head Start it has to have all the standards, not just some of the standards. Otherwise, its not Head Start,” Rinebold said.

According to federal regulations, all Head Start providers must meet performance standards. Using only part of the criteria is in conflict with that requirement and would violate the use of the trademarked name Head Start.

Head Start was created 38 years ago to prepare at-risk children for school. The Head Start program requires all children receive medical, dental, and mental health screenings and services.