FAQs
General Questions
- Classroom time includes a large variety of activities.
- Often teachers begin the day with a circle time activity.
- They may also sing, dance, do finger plays, or have story time.
- They may have short lessons about studies they are doing.
- Children work individually, in small groups and in large groups.
- Yes, children with disabilities or special needs are accepted at all of our sites.
- The Head Start Act of 2007 requires that "Not less than 10 percent of the total number of children actually enrolled by each Head Start agency and each delegate agency will be children with disabilities who are determined to be eligible for special education and related services.
- Head Start offers the family a chance to be involved in activities and events to help your whole family.
- Parents and guardians can take training and classes on a variety of subjects, such as child rearing, parent education, health and nutrition, and making use of free resources int eh local community.
- Families may get referrals to medical, dental, social welfare, mental health, or employment specialists in the community.
- Children need to develop their large muscles and skills throughout outdoor play.
- If the weather is extremely inclement, the children will stay in and do motor development activities in the classroom or multi-purpose room.
- The school district can do another evaluation six months after the last evaluations if there are still concerns.
- In the meantime, children may receive extra help in the Head Start class in which they are enrolled.
- We give children several opportunities to gain "pre-reading" skills.
- They have activities where they learn to recognize their name and identify letters.
- As their skills progress, they will be given opportunities to develop reading skills.
Although we love children and families, when you visit int he classroom, it is a special time to focus exclusively on your Head Start child.
Older siblings, who are volunteering in the classroom in place of a parent, must be at least 16 years of age and have advance permission from the teacher.
- Assessment of each child assists teachers in planning activities the children are interested in.
- Also, it helps in recognizing each child's current strengths and reinforcing them.
- Provides children with opportunities to gain new skills.
- No. Although we try to be as flexible as possible, we have to be very strict with our class times.
- Teachers use the time before and after class to prepare for the day.
Early Head Start is a prenatal age three, infant-toddler program for low-income families designed to nurture and support parents and children by building on families' strengths.
- Early Head Start offers supportive services as early in life as possible.
- Our program provides services to pregnant women and their families and through the child's first three years of life until they are ready to transition to Head Start or another pre-k program.
Enrollment Questions
- For the Head Start/Early Head Start portion of the day (up to 3.5 hours) it costs NOTHING.
- Head Start is a federally funded program, our 3.5 hour/day classes and activities are free to all who are enrolled.
- For the extended portion of the day (from 3.5 hours up to 10 hours), the childcare cost is based on family income, allowing our families the full-day option in order to work and/or attend school.
- The federal poverty guidelines system determines a family's need. "Person in Family" are the number of blood relatives of your child (including the child) living in the home and being supported by the income.
- Families that meet less than the listed gross income for the number of people in their household qualify for Head Start.
- Head Start and Early Head Start are federal programs developed to help families based on need.
- That means that families below the federal poverty guidelines and children with disabilities are enrolled first.
- However, if we continue to have spots open, we then pass those openings on to the families that do not meet the guidelines but have the greatest need.
- Receipt of food stamps does not mean your child automatically qualifies-it will still depend on income based on the federal poverty guidelines.
- If you are unsure if your child qualifies, feel free to contact us.
- Most classes are held for 3.5 hours each day, Monday-Friday
- Morning sessions start at 8:00am and go until 11:30am, while afternoon sessions start at 1:00pm and go until 4:30pm. Full-day options (both six-hour/day and 10 hour/day) operate form 7:30am until 5:30pm
- Any application isn't complete until you've met with your family advocate and turned in your income information and your child's birth certificate.
- If you've done all of that and still haven't heard anything, it means that your child is on our wait list.
You can still fill out an application if you have adoption papers or a letter from the parents saying you have permission to do the application.
- Everyone that applies to enroll in Head Start is automatically placed on the wait list.
- During the summer, we enroll the children with the greatest need to start in the fall.
- As spots open during the school year due to the children moving or otherwise leaving the program, we enroll the next child with the greatest need.
- We reevaluate and fill our open spots monthly during the school year.
Yes, that’s exactly what it means.
We have limited transportation to several of our sites and we help to promote carpooling.
- After you have called the Administrative Office (217- 328-3313) and been put on an interest list, an intake specialist (family advocate) will contact you to set up an appointment to apply for the program.
- At that time, the advocate will indicate which special health forms should be completed.
- These include the Special Meal Plan form, the Child Health Plan form, and the Authorization to Administer Medication form.
Feel free to talk to your family advocate or to call our administrative office at (217) 328-3313.