Washington, D.C. — Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed an education grant for American Samoa of over $4 million for Head Start. This federal funding is through the U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) — the second HHS Head Start grant since late June.

Specifically, this discretionary grant to the American Samoa Department of Education is for $4,061,430 as designated to Head Start, the early childhood education program. Last month, Congresswoman Amata also welcomed a similar Head Start grant of $1,170,572.

“I want to start by congratulating Director of Education Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga, and thanking Milaneta Tinitali,” said Aumua Amata. “I know all our education programs will have uncertainties this year due to the pandemic, but this financing is good news for our islands’ young students and their parents.”

As a national program, Head Start has been working with children for 55 years.

 “Thank you to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, the Administration for Children and Families, and Dr. Deborah Bergeron, who directs the national Office of Head Start,” continued Amata.

Funded by Congress and administered through HHS, Head Start is the national commitment to give every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, an opportunity to succeed in school and in life. It is a comprehensive early education program for children birth to age 5, focused on early math and reading skills along with confidence and resilience to help children build abilities they need to be successful.