The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report today that contained troublesome findings of potential fraud within Head Start, which provides early education services to low-income children. Following the report’s release, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Republican Leader of the Committee on House Education and Labor, sent a letter to Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) requesting the Committee hold a public hearing to examine potential fraud within Head Start.
In the letter, Republican Leader Foxx writes: “High quality early childhood education plays an important role in the health and success of our nation’s children. As policymakers we have a responsibility to ensure programs like Head Start are working efficiently and effectively. It’s not just taxpayer dollars that are on the line, it’s students’ futures."
NOTE: The GAO, tasked with examining how taxpayer dollars are spent, released a report in 2010 that found potential fraud and abuse at select Head Start centers. The report released today examined whether steps have been taken to address the failings found in 2010. Today’s report indicates that significant fraud risks remain; the concerning actions include fabricating income information, doctoring applications to exclude income information, and dismissing income information that would have impacted an individual’s eligibility.
