House OKs Reauthorization of Head Start

Bill would suspend pupil assessments in preschool program.

The House of Representatives last week approved a bipartisan measure reauthorizing the Head Start program that seeks to boost accountability for grantees, improve state coordination on preschool programs, and encourage more teachers in the program to obtain bachelor’s degrees.

The bill was approved May 2 on a vote of 365-48.

Like a reauthorization bill the House passed in 2005, but that never won final congressional approval, the latest measure would suspend the National Reporting System, the controversial federal assessments the Bush administration has promoted to measure pupil learning...