Eligible 3-year Old Children Enrolled in Head Start

Measure

Number of eligible 3-year-old children enrolled in Head Start.

Why is this indicator important?

Children leaving early learning and Pre-K programs are better prepared for kindergarten, excited about learning and better prepared for success.

The goal of Head Start is to increase the social competence of children in low-income families and children with disabilities, and to improve their chances for school success.

Head Start in Georgia is serving less than five out of 10 eligible children, while Early Head Start is serving only three out of every 100 eligible children.  (Early Head Start provides services to eligible pregnant mothers and children through age 3.)

How are we doing in Hall County?

• Head Start programs in Hall County are enrolling an increasing number of eligible 3-year-olds each year.
  

What does research tell us we can do to improve this indicator?

• Educate parents and community about the benefits of quality early learning programs
• Link families with available program slots to enroll their child in Head Start early learning programs
• Offer greater flexibility in providing services as family needs change to encourage parents to keep their children in early learning programs
• Allow Head Start programs the flexibility to serve children birth to 5-years-old without having to go through a separate grant process for different levels