As the nation’s premier early childhood education program, Head Start offers a broad range of services for children ages three to five who reside in low-income families, and children who have special needs and their families. The program assists each child to develop cognitively, emotionally, physically, and socially and involves the entire family in the child’s development.

The overall goal of the program is to work in partnership with parents to prepare each child for success in school so they will grow up to be contributing members of the community. Head Start assists parents in their role as their child’s first and best teacher by offering services and opportunities expressly for them.

Head Start classrooms provide children with a specialized curriculum that offers the opportunity to work and play individually and in small groups, according to their abilities and interests. “Learning through play” is an important aspect of the program and these experiences help to build basic pre-math and pre-reading skills, self-confidence, and a love for learning.

“I’ve seen a huge difference in my daughter since she began attending Head Start. Marisol is confident and comfortable with school, and she loves to ask questions and explore new things,” said Marisol’s mother, Maria, who volunteers regularly in the program.

Marisol is eagerly anticipating kindergarten next school year. She is quickly learning how to write her name, recognize colors, count numbers, and recite the alphabet. Marisol also speaks English and Spanish fluently, as Spanish is the primary language of her family. The four-year-old is an asset to her classmates because she is able to help Spanish-speaking classmates communicate in English.

CPCD provides Head Start services for children and their families in School Districts 2, 3, 8, 11, 22 and 49, and through partnerships with the Child Nursery Centers, the Urban League Child Development Center, and family child care homes. 223 of these children received needed therapy services as part of the Head Start daily classroom routine to address identified special needs.

“Marisol looks forward to going to Head Start everyday,” Maria says. “She’s doing well.”