Talk about being penny-wise and pound-foolish. The Bush administration has proposed some of the most drastic cuts to Head Start in the program's 43-year history. It's all for the dubious purpose of reining in domestic spending, while the cost of defense goes up and up. But few things could be more important to the nation's future than putting low-income children on an early path to educational success.
Head Start gives needy children a boost by providing intellectual and social stimulation along with healthy meals. Despite its many benefits, the program has struggled to reach full potential because constant underfunding has kept supply from meeting demand. Mr. Bush is now proposing cuts in 2009 that the National Head Start Association estimates would result in more than 14,000 fewer slots for children - the first time a president has formally budgeted for such a reduction since the program began.
Head Start officials rightly insist that new rules and less money amounts to an unfunded mandate - one that a majority of centers across the country cannot handle without painful cuts in quality. A local Baltimore program has had to cut teachers' work hours while increasing family caseloads from a recommended 36 families to 51.
Congress needs to step in. About $470 million is being sought in a supplemental 2008 appropriation to help recover some ground. Granted, a lot of domestic needs are unfulfilled, but stanching Head Start's wounds should be a top priority.