The Head Start program, which prepares disadvantaged 3-and 4-year-olds for school, has served nearly 30 million children since it was created in 1955 in America. While there is little doubt that the federal program is (47) important for these children and their parents, quality varies widely among programs. Over the years, Congress has tried to (48) oversight and improve the $ 8 billion program. In December, the Obama administration put into effect a (49) evaluation system that will allow federal officials to judge the effectiveness of individual Head Start centers and to shut down chronic low performers. Last month, scores of Head Start grant recipients in about 40 (50) —including those in New York City, Los Angeles, Baltimore and New Haven—were (51) that they will be required to reapply for their (52) because they do not meet certain administrative requirements. Those programs will now have to (53) with other potential providers, who will have a chance to show that they can do a better job. These (54) are part of the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, which required programs to raise teacher qualifications, improve classroom offerings and broaden access to (55) groups, including children who are homeless. In the next few years, all the country’s 1, 800 or so Head Start grant holders will be (56) for performance. Even as the Obama administration strengthens performance measures, financing for Head Start may be at risk in fiscal 2013, when big federal spending cuts start to kick in. A. allowances B. compatible C. compete D. cope E. critically F. evaluated G. grants H) informed I) reforms J) sensible K) states L) strengthen M) submitted N) uniquely O) vulnerable