Thread: Immigration bill could hurt Head Start in Kentucky, official

Immigration bill could hurt Head Start in Kentucky, officials say

By Beth Musgrave at 6:25pm on Jan 21, 2011 — bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — A bill that would make it a crime for an illegal immigrant to set foot in Kentucky could cost the state's Head Start programs millions of dollars, Head Start officials warned this week.

In a letter to House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, Head Start officials said that Senate Bill 6, which passed the Senate this month, could create problems for the federal pre-kindergarten program that serves 17,444 children in all 120 counties.

The bill has not been considered by the House, which will reconvene Feb. 1. House leaders, including Stumbo, have said it is doubtful that the Senate's immigration bill will pass the Democrat-controlled House. A recent legislative analysis says implementing the bill could cost the state as much as $40 million.

S.B. 6 would make it a crime for anyone to transport or assist an illegal immigrant and would create a state charge of trespassing if an illegal immigrant enters Kentucky.

Head Start officials cannot ask a family about their immigration status, according to federal guidelines.

If they did ask a parent's immigration status, they could "face loss of federal grant funding for failure to abide by federal law. This would result in the loss of Head Start, Early Head Start and/or Migrant Head Start service to all children served by the grantee, as well as the loss of all Head Start jobs created by the grantee's funding," wrote Bob Wilcher, executive director of Kentucky Head Start Association.

Head Start employs 3,500 people in Kentucky.

Wilcher went on to say that he is concerned that Head Start employees or even bus drivers could be arrested for teaching or transporting illegal immigrants' children under the provisions in S.B. 6.

Stumbo, in a letter to House membership, said he was forwarding the information to House members so they would be aware of the possible problems associated with S.B. 6.

The state Senate passed several bills in the first four days of the legislative session in early January, which are typically reserved for organizational purposes.

Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, the sponsor of S.B. 6, and Senate President David Williams of Burkesville could not be reached for comment.

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/01/21/1606 ... z1BiqMTmHO

"Headstart doesn't want to lose federal funding!"

Greg Stumbo Kentucy's Speaker of the House:

House District 95
Floyd (part)
Mailing Address
Box 1473
108 Kassidy Drive
Prestonsburg KY 41653
Frankfort Address(es)
702 Capitol Ave
Annex Room 303
Frankfort KY 40601

700 Capitol Ave
Capitol Room 309
Frankfort KY 40601
Phone Number(s)
Annex: (502) 564-2363
Capitol: (502) 564-3366
Email Address(es)
Annex: click here

"He don't speak for Kentuckians!"

Head Start officials cannot ask a family about their immigration status, according to federal guidelines.

If they did ask a parent's immigration status, they could "face loss of federal grant funding for failure to abide by federal law. This would result in the loss of Head Start, Early Head Start and/or Migrant Head Start service to all children served by the grantee, as well as the loss of all Head Start jobs created by the grantee's funding," wrote Bob Wilcher, executive director of Kentucky Head Start Association.

This makes no sense to me. "For failure to abide by federal law" aren't the illegal parents violating federal law just by being here???

Why is one of these federal laws enforced while the other is not??!?!

I tried to get my son into a Head Start in PA for 2 years, so room they said. Got plenty of room for kids of illegal aliens though, don't they?


Sorry, NOT buying it! If Head Start is funded based on the number of kids in the program, I say remove the kids of illegal aliens to make room for kids of people who are legally here. Then let the feds try to take funding away from American citizens/legal immigrants. Let em try.

A bill that would make it a crime for an illegal immigrant to set foot in Kentucky could cost the state's Head Start programs millions of dollars

If this bill passes , they will move on to a different state so Headstart won't have to worry about this.

Head start is a joke. All it is is free baby-sitting for welfare mothers. Its supposed purpose is for low income kids to grow into better adults. Its been around about 30 years. Do you see it working? Now it looks like illegals (of course) have taken it over. So its time to shut down this expensive waste of taxpayers money.

These kids should not be in Head Start to begin with. Bottom line. If the kid belongs to undocumented and illegal parents then the whole lot of them needs to be deported. Like it was said. Take the illegals out and make room for legal kids to take part. Its common sense but then the latino community does not want common sense used as it interferes with the goals and principles of the community of take take take.

So cancel Head Start. I personally think Head Start is a total waste of time and federal money. I didn't even go to Kindergarten. And never missed a thing because of it.

"Head start is a joke. All it is is free baby-sitting for welfare mothers."

BINGO !

Originally Posted by MadAsHellInSanDiego

"Head start is a joke. All it is is free baby-sitting for welfare mothers."

BINGO !

Exactly. In fact, I would support cutting Head Start and Kindergarten from the federal budget entirely. If states want these programs, then they can use their own money to pay for this nonsense.