The Head Start community mourns the passing of President George H.W. Bush, who along with the First Lady was an ardent supporter of providing every vulnerable child the opportunity to succeed in school and life. In announcing his 1992 budget, President Bush said, ''Many children need a Head Start, and we're going to make sure they get it. In Head Start we found a government program that works to strengthen families and communities for the future.''
And as President, he put those words into action. The number of children served by Head Start almost doubled during President Bush's four years in office--a record expansion that no other administration before or since has surpassed. He also proposed the largest single year funding increase in Head Start's history and supported numerous quality improvement initiatives.
President Bush and Mrs. Bush believed deeply in Head Start's ability to change lives through its holistic model of whole-child support and family engagement. Their legacy will live on in the millions of children and families who have accessed that window of opportunity thanks to their commitment to Head Start.
We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family.