What Is Head Start?
Early Learning:
Health:
Each child’s perceptual, motor, and physical development is supported to permit them to fully explore and function in their environment. All children receive health and developmental screenings, nutritious meals, oral health care, and social-emotional support. Programs connect families with medical, dental, and mental health services to ensure that children are receiving the services they need.
Family Well-Being:
Children With Different Abilities:
Young children vary in their skills, knowledge, backgrounds, and abilities. Head Start programs provide opportunities for all children to access, fully participate, and thrive in the classroom. Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals are used as part of effective teaching, individualizing, and creating inclusive environments that support positive outcomes for children and families.
What does 4 Stars Mean?
Collinwood Academy, a Four Star, rated program, offers a learning and development program whose level of quality exceeds Ohio’s child care licensing standards.
High quality learning and development program settings are important because early experiences last a lifetime. Your child has 1,892 days from the day they are born until they enter kindergarten. What happens on this journey lays the foundation for success in school and life.
A Step Up To Quality Four-Star rated program means that your child is in a program that meets all basic requirements for a licensed child-care center and has chosen to exceed these requirements to the highest degree. Below are some of the ways a Step Up To Quality Rated program can provide increased quality at the Four Star level.
- Lower staff/child ratios: Teachers have more time to support your child’s individual development and learning. This is important because 90% of brain development occurs by the time your child is 6 years old.
- The administrator and teachers have higher education qualifications: The administrator and most lead teachers have an associated degree, bachelor’s degree or master’s degree and many years’ experience working with young children. In fact, the administrator holds a PhD in Biblical Counseling. These qualifications benefit your child’s development and learning.
- The administrator and teachers complete more than 20 hours of specialized training every two years: The administrator and teaching staff are committed to expanding their knowledge and skills to better support your child’s development and learning. Our staff is committed to continuous personal and professional development.
- Teachers use a written plan of activities that covers all areas of development: The program develops a written, research-based lesson plan that provides opportunities for exploration and learning for your child. Also, the program continuously assesses your child to ensure developmental and academic milestones are met.
- The program builds relationships with families: Families contribute to their child’s education plan and share information about their child’s progress toward jointly developed learning goals.
- The program values input from families and the community: Each year, the program communicates with families and neighborhood organizations about program goals and accomplishments.
