A local congresswoman visited with Head Start officials Monday in Farrell to learn more about local program directors concerns about the future of the program.

After touring the Head Start school, U.S. Rep Melissa Hart, Bradford Woods, R-4th District, held a brief roundtable discussion with officials focusing on changes the Bush administration is posing for the federal pre-kindergarten program.

"I'm not a specialist or a teacher. I've been involved in government for awhile and would like to work on empowerment" with teachers and students, she said after hearing local concerns about changes in Head Start.

Under the administration's proposal, states would be allowed to coordinate Head Start and other preschool programs in place of the federal government. Head Start funding currently goes directly from the federal government to local organizations like Mercer County Head Start.

Advocates say the changes would improve Head Start educationally, and states would still have to continue offering family and health services to Head Start students. The federal law that authorizes Head Start expires Sept. 30.

Terri Lengyel, director of Mercer County Head Start, said there's no problem with the state getting involved in the program. But, she said, changing the comprehensive program to stress education may water it down.

Head Start serves the neediest of the needy, Ms. Lengyel said. It helps families with social service needs and allows parents to work with their children on school issues, she said.

"It's hard for children to go to school and learn when there's other issues they need to deal with and that's what Head Start does. It prepares them for school," Toni George, a Head Start parental involvement coordinator, told Ms. Hart.

Mercer County Head Start serves 313 children ages 3 to 4 with 20 classrooms in all county school districts and out-of-classroom services. Early head Start serves 66 pregnant women, infants and toddlers.

Many parents whose children are involved in the program have low levels of education and negative attitudes toward school, Ms. George said. The program works with parents through parent-student and parent-teacher programs, she said. Parents have to volunteer once a month in their child's classroom, which gets them involved in their child's education.

The program also offers health services for infants, some of whom aren't up to date on their immunizations or move from doctor to doctor, and families including dental hygiene and help finding doctors. Many involved in the program don't have health insurance.

James Guerino, a Farrell School Board member, said the program's growth is evidence that the system under which it works should continue.

"I really hate to see a program like that put in jeopardy," Guerino said.

Hart, who represents Farrell, West Middlesex, Shenango Township and a sliver of Hermitage, said she's interested in learning what's working and what's not working in the program.

She asked directors about the income of families involved, the transitional stage from preschool to kindergarten and how Farrell Head Start works.

"We have many Head Starts and not all of them have buildings. You have a good deal going on," she said of Farrell.

Ms. Hart said she plans to share directors' suggestions about Head Start reauthorization with chairman of the House Education and Appropriations committees.