What exactly is a head start center, for children?

Question

What exactly is a head start center, for children?

Answer 1

It's free pre-kindergarten for poor kids. Everyone else has to pay.

Answer 2

It's a "head start" for kids to get ready for Kindergarten.They learn everything the will need to know for school.:)

Answer 3

My daughter went to one. And it is true that you have to be within a certain criteria to be eligible , such as being near poverty line but  in New York at least where nursery fees are sky high, everyone wants to get their kid into the program. And there were no kids who paid there..It is a very good program where parental participation is encouraged and the children are taught all they need to know to be proud of themselves. I was told that even rich families lie about their income just to get into it. There are even counselling groups for the parents. My daughter to this day remembers the good habits  she was taught there . Well, the one we know was  very well run and not a waste of federal money I think.  So I say to the system...thanks for Head Start.

Answer 4

It's basically like a pre kindergarten. They begin teaching kids social skills, ABC's,123's, shapes, colors etc. It's very effective in my opinion. All three of my kids went to one.

Answer 5

oh...i went to heard start...it is basically a pre-school...children learn all kinds of great starter skills.





About the Office of Head Start

Mission

Head Start is a national program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families.

Program Description

The Head Start program provides grants to local public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies to provide comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families, with a special focus on helping preschoolers develop the early reading and math skills they need to be successful in school. In FY 1995, the Early Head Start program was established to serve children from birth to three years of age in recognition of the mounting evidence that the earliest years matter a great deal to children's growth and development.

Head Start programs promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families. They engage parents in their children's learning and help them in making progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals. Significant emphasis is placed on the involvement of parents in the administration of local Head Start programs.

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/abou...

Answer 6

Generally its for preschool children whose families are at or below the poverty line.  If a child is over the income level, but has a disability, they may also be accepted

Answer 7

It's another failed government program the redistributes our wealth.  Studies show it's a federally-funded daycare, with few academic results.

Answer 8

it prepares them for kindergarten

Answer 9

Head Start is a federally funded comprehensive early childhood program, designed for low income families or those with other stressors such as a parent or child with a disability. There are many models, but most provide a preschool classroom setting for the children and medical, nutritional and social services assistance for parents. Head Start is designed for children ages 3 and 4 but there is an Early Head Start in some areas for children under 3.