Gwyn Gittens

news@breezenewspapers.com

The School Board of Lee County unanimously voted to move forward with changing the eligibility requirements for children entering the Head Start Program.

The selection criteria for the program is based on a point system with a committee meeting every year with parents to review the system and selection criteria, so it can be adjusted based on the community’s need.

“The point system… the most vulnerable children rise to the top… homeless, adopted, foster care,” Early Childhood Learning Services Director Mary Romo said.

Some of the requirements for the Head Start program includes at least “70 percent of the Head Start and Early Head Start designated children must be from families whose income is at, or below 100 percent poverty level, including those with no income.”

Families also are eligible if they receive Temporary Aid Assistance to Needy Families, or Supplemental Social Security Income, child has a diagnosed disability or if the child is classified as homeless.

The district can enroll 720 children into the Head Start program. There currently are 634 enrolled.

Romo said some of this has to do with COVID, or parents not wishing to enroll students into the schools at which the programs are provided.

“We have 29 3-year-olds on the waiting list,” she said.

Part of the change in the policy is “3- year-old children, if vacant slots available after the enrollment of all eligible 4 year children.”

Romo said currently, when 3-year-olds come into the program, they come through the ranks as an Early Head Start, are designated as homeless, or have an individual education plan, or IEP. District staff wants to open it up to the waiting list 3-year-olds who do not have a relationship yet with the Head Start Program.

“That is really what we are requesting,” Romo said. “The open spots first offered to 4-year-old families. If families rejected spots, then move onto the 3-year-olds. We would not be forming 3-year-old classrooms. (They would be) integrated into the Head Start classrooms.”

Currently there are 114 4-year-olds on the waiting list who are not accepting the locations at which there are openings, often times because of where the school is located.

The schools that are under enrolled are Bonita Elementary School, with one classroom, and James Stephens Elementary School with two classrooms. There is a max of 18 students per class.

“If approved (we could) reach out to each of those families and give them the choice,” Romo said. “The current number on the waiting list is 29. That could change today as families are applying for Head Start. Families would have to wait until 4 (years old). This would get them into the program sooner and we do have other 3-year-olds in the program.”

There were other discussions on how to recruit children into the program, which Board member Gwyn Gittens said could happen by giving children in the community a class experience.