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Latino children may have education disadvantages when starting kindergarten. Head Start, which is free for low-income families, may help to improve school readiness with curriculum to enhance children’s language, pre-literacy, and social-emotional skills.
In 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services Head Start passed new performance standards increasing the minimum program hours.
This is great for kids and families, but a challenge for providers due to limited space.
In Alexandrian, Minnesota, half-day classes could share the same facility, one in the morning and a second in the afternoon, but didn’t have the space to offer full day programming for both classes.
They needed more space.
Jim Haugen, Head Start Supervisor approached Alexandria Technical and Community College (ATCC) administration about potential space on the campus for Head Start classes, according to one source.
ATCC liked the idea.
During the summer of 2017, they are renovating the nursing school’s old lab space into two Head Start classrooms, which will have a bathroom, a playground outside, and a separate entrance. The facility should be ready for fall classes.
In addition to accommodating early childhood education, this shared use agreement-of sorts-also helps people with children who are interested in returning to school, but find child care as a barrier. In order to support parent’s continuing education, quality childcare must be accessible.
Early childhood development programs have long-term social and emotional development benefits.
By The Numbers
84
percent
of Latino parents support public funding for afterschool programs
