New Year, New School Supplies! Hey Teachers & Directors – We’ve got everything here to start your New Year. 2018 is upon us and this is the year you are going be organized & prepared. Right? Right. Once you read through our school supply list, you’ll have no fear and be saying “BRING IT ON” to the New Year.  *For all product links in this article you can use code: V4701 for 20% OFF & Free Shipping on all orders over $100 Individual whiteboards Getting kids enthusiastic and involved in the classroom is one of the chief goals of a teacher. Individual whiteboards can help you get kids on board with...

Healthy Eating: Nutritional Tips for Early Education Programs The nutrition that is given to toddlers under the age of three is more important than most people realize. Early education programs, such as Early Head Start, which caters to babies aged three and under, also provides healthy foods and nutrition as part of their educational services. Studies show that babies grow three inches or so every three months, while toddlers grow at about three to five inches throughout an entire year. However, every baby is different, so their nutritional needs may vary from child to child. Food service supplies for programs like Head Start are very important. Head Start administrators often...

The Many Benefits of Early Education Programs for Families Head Start administrators have an awesome responsibility. Studies show that early education programs have many more benefits than previous realized. Getting children ready for school by teaching them the basic fundamentals, which are often missed out on in low-income family situations where private preschool is not in the budget, is just part of the equation. Setting up a basic standard of healthcare, providing healthy nutrition, dental care opportunities and encouraging family participation are just some of the other jobs that Head Start administrators undertake. Budgeting for Benefits It is important for Head Start Programs to offer children and their families as...

The Economic Value of Head Start Programs for Pre-K Education Whenever budget issues are discussed at the federal level, early childhood education and Head Start programs get scrutinized and criticized. Despite the fact that local leaders, like Bill deBlasio, the mayor of New York City, are calling for more funding to be put to use in pre-kindergarten programs, partisan politics can still hurt these important services. Once elected to office, Mayor deBlasio argued with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo about funding for the pre-K program, but they didn’t debate whether or not funding such a program was the right thing to do. Both men, despite their difference in politics, understood...

How to Reduce Head Start Budgets and Survive the Federal Cuts The past couple of years have been difficult for Head Start program administrators and the families across America who depend upon Head Start for nutritional, health and early learning programs. In light of cuts to the Head Start budgets by the federal government, many administrators have been forced to reduce Head Start budgets by cutting staff, reducing the number of spots available to needy families or by closing their doors completely. Costs Associated With Running a Head Start Program In addition to all of the costs associated with the daily administrative operations of a Head Start program, there are...

Original Creator of Head Start Dies in Massachusetts, age 93 A professor of pediatrics at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland back in the late 1950s, Dr. Robert E. Cooke worked with Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson to create the Head Start programs and other major initiatives for children. His involvement the Head Start programs came after he began working with Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her husband Sargent Shriver, after they discovered their mutual interest in helping children with disabilities. Dr. Cooke, who was also a father of two children with a chromosomal defect, began working as an adviser to the Shrivers and the Joseph P. Kennedy...

The House Budget Committee’s View on Early Learning Programs With so many American families depending on early learning programs like the Head Start programs, it is important to stay on top of reports, such as the one from the House Budget Committee, has to say about these important social services. The report focused on a wide group of social service and educational programs and specifically addressed the Head Start and Child Care and Development Fund programs, two services that low-income families rely on heavily, especially in the current economic climate. Here is a brief overview on what the House Budget Committee Report had to say about Head Start Programs and...

How Has the Government Shutdown Affected Head Start Programs? The Head Start Program is a federally funded program that provides school preparation training for children ages six and under who live in low-income families. In addition to preparing children for grade school, Head Start also provides important services relating to cognitive development, nutrition and health to underprivileged children living in poverty. Head Start Closures Nationwide The 2013 Government Shutdown forced Head Start programs nationwide to shut down after funds required to run this important service became unavailable. Head Start Programs located in the states of Alabama, Connecticut, Florida and Mississippi have closed as a direct result of the shutdown, leaving...

Good News for Head Start Programs Despite Cuts in Federal Funding Head Start programs in America have been on the wrong end of budget cuts in recent months. It started with sequestration, which resulted in cuts to Head Start program that went into effect in March of this year, following across-the-board reductions to government funded programs. The government shutdown did little to help the already struggling program by stalling grants that were due to have been issued to Head Start to keep it afloat on October 1st. Angel Investors Fortunately for 7,200 children who depend on the Head Start program for meals, medical screenings and preschool training, a couple from...