Community Action, Inc. of Hays, Caldwell & Blanco Counties

Early Education

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Community Action, Inc. - Early Education Vision

With the beginning of the 21st century, the Head Start Program has entered an era of increased accountability for both resources and outcomes. Since 1998 when Congress reauthorized the Head Start Program, Head Start has been required to demonstrate that children make progress on specific learning outcomes. The Head Start Bureau developed the Child Outcomes Framework in response to this directive and has more recently developed the National Reporting System to prove progress towards some of these mandated outcomes.

Community Action has been working diligently for the past several years to develop and implement curriculum, assessment, and quality classroom instruction that meet the requirements of the Head Start Bureau’s Performance Standards and Child Outcomes Framework. The following is a list of some of the things already accomplished:

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The expectation for qualifications of classroom teachers has been raised to the Bachelors degree level. All teacher ones hold a minimum of an associate’s degree and most hold a bachelor’s degree.

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All Early Head Start Teacher Ones employed by Community Action Inc. have received a minimum of an Associate’s degree with 80% having a Bachelor’s degree. One Early Head Start Teacher One employed by a community partner has a CDA. Head Start teacher ones employed by community partners have bachelors degrees.

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Curriculum which is aligned with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework has been adopted for all Head Start classrooms; the curricula being used are also in alignment with the school district in which the center resides. The Early Head Start curriculum is also in alignment with the Head Start Outcomes though this is not a federal requirement.

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A reliable children’s assessment instrument (Online data based Pre-School First) has been identified and is used in Head Start and Early Head Start. This system also helps in individualizing for each child.

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Many Head Start teachers have received training in the High/Scope philosophy and teaching strategies, the Center for Improving the Readiness of Children for Learning and Education’s (C.I.R.C.L.E) strategies to encourage literacy development, and the design of goals, objectives, and outcome statements for classroom planning.

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The education team has been redesigned to streamline the number of education professionals working in each center: Child Development Coordinators, Mentor and Master Teachers

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Tracking of Services for children with Disabilities had been assigned to the education team to ensure that the classroom services for children with disabilities more fully meet their needs and are in line with their Individual Education Plans (IEPs).

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Literacy, math, and science activities have been increased in all classrooms.

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Early Head Start and Head Start teachers are experts in involving parents through regular, ongoing communication which is well documented.

Curriculum is a written plan that includes:

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Goals for children’s development and learning

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Experiences through which they will achieve the goals;

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Roles for staff and parents to help children to achieve these goals; and

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Materials needed to support the implementation of curriculum.