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- Who can attend Head Start?
 Students
must be three years old by September 1st of the
school year- Students must meet Head Start income guidelines
- Three-year-olds with disabilities are eligible
on their birthdays
- Some over income slots are available
- How are parents involved?
- Visits from parents are encouraged and welcomed.
Parents can spend time volunteering in their
child's class. Head Start provides parenting
education, parent leadership opportunities and
family support services, and they schedule home
visits and parent conferences.
- Where and when do the children
attend preschool?
- What happens in preschool
classes?
 In
Head Start classes, children explore their environment
with toys, books, games, and activities geared
to their interest. Head Start classes include:
- Prereading and premath instruction
- Field trips and community experiences
- Holiday celebrations
- An outdoor playground
- Music and art activities
- Special visitors
- Development of social skills
- Multicultural experiences
- Kindergarten readiness
- Computer opportunities
- The children at SIUC Head Start have scored at
or above the national average in Language and
Literacy skills.
- Children are taught by qualified preschool teachers!
Head Start teachers are professionally trained
early childhood educators and meet Head Start/DCFS
qualifications.
- What about snacks and lunch?
 Children
enrolled in Head Start receive either breakfast
and lunch or lunch and a snack every day, depending
on which session they attend. Meals are free
for all enrolled children. Emphasis is placed
on nutritional foods that children enjoy and
meals are served family style.
- Is there bus transportation?
- Bus transportation is available for children
living within designated transportation areas.
- My child has special needs.
Will he receive the attention he needs?
- Children with special needs will receive appropriate
individual services in addition to the preschool
education program.
- What about health services?
- Head Start screens all children to determine
needs. All children are checked for difficulties
with seeing and hearing. Parents receive assistance
if a child requires special medical services.
- What is the difference
between a Head Start Center and a Co-location?
 - In
addition to our Head Start centers, we also partnership
with other childcare providers and we have Head
Start rooms in their facilities. We work
in coordination with their staff to provide Head
Start services.
- No parent fees for half-day morning and afternoon
sessions
- Parent fees exist for qualified families for
full-day sessions (school year and year round)
- If you are interested in applyinsg for Head Start,
contact us at 618/453-6448 or use our contact
form.
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There are four Head Start centers in
Jackson and Williamson counties: