Community Action Inc. of Central Texas Head Start is committed to
providing the highest quality services to children and families. To this end,
our center-based program uses a developmentally appropriate educational
approach, grounded in proven theories of how children grow and learn. Teachers
create environments and offer experiences that build upon children’s interests;
support children’s abilities and needs; include a range of adult-directed and
child-initiated learning; and encourage children to work and explore
independently. The Education Advisory Committee
composed of Head Start parents, Policy Council officers, early childhood
professionals from the university, local public schools, community early
intervention, and the Education Team advise the program on the establishment of
program goals for improving school readiness. These goals are aligned with the
Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, Pre-K guidelines and Texas early
learning standards as appropriate. The advisory committee also provides
guidance on curriculum selection. The education team is composed
of Child Development Coordinators, a Mental Health & Disabilities
Coordinator, and a School Readiness Coordinator. The team ensures the following
education goals are carried out for our children:
Early Head Start
Head Start
Our
classrooms are inclusive of children with disabilities; respectful of
differences in gender, culture, language, ethnicity and family composition; and
welcoming to parents. Our classrooms use the Frog Street Curriculum to foster
and facilitate positive learning experiences and growth alongside Conscious
Discipline for social/emotional development. Parents are provided with
information about the classroom curriculum both formally (e.g. in Parent
Handbook or Parent Committee meetings) through on-going parent-teacher
communication forms, with bi-weekly notification for Early Head Start and
monthly for Head Start on individual child goals, and informally through daily
discussions during drop off and pick-up. Parents' on-going observations of
their own children are also a valued source of information in planning
curriculum. An invitation for parents to join the teachers in curriculum
planning is posted in each classroom with each classroom's respective planning
date and time. Additionally, parents are invited
to serve on the annual education advisory committee which meets at least once,
but sometimes twice each year.
Teaching
staff will use intentional instruction, agency adopted curriculum, on-going
assessment, and weekly lesson plans that incorporate the five domains of the
Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework to provide and maintain
quality learning experiences. This intentionality includes children who are
dual language learners and children with disabilities. The Child Development
Coordinators work closely with teaching staff and center directors to create
quality and safe learning environments which offer experiences that build upon
children’s interests. This work demonstrates a support of children’s abilities
and needs and encourages children to work and explore independently. Child
Development Coordinators also ensure Head Start Performance Standards and Texas
State Licensing Minimum Standards for child care centers are understood and
followed by staff.
