Amata Welcomes Over $5.5 Million Head Start Grant
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata welcomed official notice of $5,509,857 for American Samoa’s Head Start program, a major grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and their Administration for Children and Families.
Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata and Director Maefau Dr. Mary Lauagaia Taufete'e
“I would like to thank Program Director of Early Childhood Education Fonofili Muaava, along with everyone who works with our bright young children or ensuring our territory meets federal requirements for this very helpful support,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Education is among our most important permanent priorities, along with health care, and through ASDOE we can see to it that each generation has more opportunity and access to quality education than the one before. Thank you also to all of our hardworking teachers of all our students of any age, and Education Director Maefau Dr. Mary Lauagaia Taufete’e.”
Since establishing Head Start, Congress continues to appropriate funds yearly for the program. The vision of Head Start is to help children succeed in school, as well as in life and careers, by focusing on children under 5 years old and their early reading and math skills.
This federal funding helps the American Samoa Department of Education cultivate programs for early K-12 education, consistent with the program’s priority to assist lower income communities.
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