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Four-year-rid children are being tested for their ability to recognize simple words and letters in the (36) . They are also being tested for their skills with numbers. Federal education officials say the test will help the Head Start program (37) . The officials will compare the (38) of the children against national (39) in early arithmetic, reading and writing.
Local non-profit organizations (40) the programs. The government spends more than six-and-a-half thousand-million dollars a year to pay for Head Start.
Federal officials say close to a million children (41) the country take part in the programs.
Wade Horn leads the Head Start program for the government. Mister Horn says the test is (42) to learn which kinds of programs help children the most.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (43) a report on Head Start in June. (44) . It said the Head Start children are not as ready for school as the others. But some educators criticize the idea that one year in Head Start could raise poor children m average levels. Some also criticize parts of the test. For example,, critics note that the children are asked to point to a picture of a "swamp." (45) .
Still, even some educators who oppose the test agree with federal officials that Head Start needs to do better to prepare children for school. Currently, local programs decide what they want to teach. Many have placed major importance on health, nutrition and social development. (46) .