Show Head Start Bill Sponsored By Sen Moss Senator Frank E E. Moss announced announced announced an an- today that he is cosponsoring cosponsoring cosponsoring co- co sponsoring the Head Start Child Development Act of 1969 The bill sponsored by Senator Walter Mondale D D D- Minn would greatly expand and strengthen programs In early childhood development THE BILL would combine Head Start and day care authorities now in the Economic Economic Econ Econ- Opportunity Act offering offering offer offer- ing services on a voluntary basis to pre school pre school children from poverty areas Programs would provide health care social social soc soc- ial services nutrition education education education and any other needed services The program seeks to reach approximately one million children in 1970 and to make child development opportunities ies les available to 17 million children in fiscal 1971 25 million children In hi 1972 33 million in 1973 and 4 million minion in 1974 SENATOR Moss said of the bill The need to devote greatly great great- ly Increased attention and resources resources resources re re- re- re sources to early childhood is compelling The critical effect of these early years of life has bas been well documented The first few years of life are the most important for the childs child's intellectual growth and for his social emotional physical and motivational development We know for example that about 50 per cent of an individuals individual's intellectual development takes place by age four Money invested in early childhood programs will be returned returned returned re re- turned to the nation m many ny times over If we do not assure assure assure as as- sure disadvantaged children an opportunity in their early years the possibility of providing pro pro- providing viding them compensatory education education ed ed- and other services at ata a later date sufficient to permit permit permit per per- mit them to catch up is great great- ly diminished Indeed evidence evidence evidence evid evid- ence seems to indicate that this can never be accomplished accomplish accomplish- ed regardless of the investment investment investment invest invest- ment of tremendous resources In the effort at a later stage in their lives |