Head Start provides educational, health, parent engagement and social services designed to ensure children are school ready.
Information about required Health Documents (Physical and Dental Exam) needed for Head Start
Together the Frankie B. King Center in Auburn, the Darden Center in Opelika, and the Marian Wright Edelman Center in Hurtsburo, Alabama, serve more than 350 children ages 3-5.
Most classrooms consist of 17 or fewer children in a mixed age group. Teachers have a degree in child development. The Teacher Assistants have or are working toward a CDA or an AA in early childhood.
Head Start has an income guideline. Ten percent of the children can be over the income limit. We accept children into the program based on a priority points system, following Federal rules.
Our program believes that children can learn and grow.
Because of the importance of regular attendance to eventual school readiness, the ACHR-CDP has adopted an attendance procedure.
Applications will be accepted at any time but are particularly encouraged in time for the beginning of the Head Start year.
Key Benefits
- Creative Curriculum:
- The Creative Curriculum: At its core, the Creative Curriculum is grounded in sound developmental theories and empirical research. Drawing from the works of renowned theorists such as Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, and Lev Vygotsky, this curriculum recognizes the significance of active, constructivist learning. Research shows that children learn best when they are actively involved in constructing knowledge through self-directed activities. The Creative Curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning, allowing children to explore, question, and understand their environment. It ensures that their cognitive, linguistic, social-emotional, and physical development domains are catered to holistically.
- Conscious Discipline Curriculum assists children in learning social communication skills, how to manage frustration, resolve conflicts and problem-solve.
- On-site services for children with special needs (such as speech/language, developmental delay, etc.) are provided as appropriate through linkages with local public schools and other resources.
- Linkage to medical and dental care.
- Family Engagement Advocates assist families in setting goals and finding needed services as well as in times of crisis.
- Availability of a variety of ways for parents to increase their knowledge about children’s issues and advocacy including parent meetings and newsletters.
- Variety of ways (parent meetings, newsletters, conferences, home visits etc.) for parents to increase their knowledge about children’s needs, possible solutions to problems /concerns, issues.
- Transportation provided for children who live over two miles from centers as needed by parents.
- Wraparound care offered at Darden and Edelman through vouchers or on a sliding fee scale for parents who work or are in school and need childcare. Care provided as early as 6:00 am and as late as 5:30 at Darden; 4:30 at Edelman and during the summer. At King Center we partner with other childcare centers that provide care
- Opportunity for parents to serve on parent or policy-making committees and to gain experience in advocacy.