Parent, Family and Community Engagement

I viewed the story of one former Head Start parent who was now A Head Start executive director! That was amazing. She was given opportunities to serve on the Head Start policy council and parent committee. These opportunities prepared her for her current role as executive director. She was learning about Head Start while serving in those capacities. She also talked about how Head Start staff encouraged her and reminded her that she could do anything she set out to do. Involving that parent in a goal setting process changed the life of that parent. She received an associates degree, a bachelor's degree and a Master's degree. This was a benefit to the parent but also to her children as she was better able to provide for them.

my opinion is Parent involvement is definitely an essential part for the early childhood field. Parents are their child's first and foremost teacher and that is a recipe for success when you mix home and school together! Parents that support classroom learning are a great tool for building academic success.

Quality Programs for All Children

I hope that our Nation will see a need for all children to have quality early care. In my job I see many people who come to do a Head Start intake and they are barely over income. They cannot get into Head Start because they make too much money. The money they make is barely enough to live on but it is too much for Head Start. They struggle to make ends meet to pay daycare so they can work. I also see many people who can afford to put their children in an early care program but they don't because they don't want to spend the money. One of the counties that I service has VPI which is Virginia Preschool Initiative. this program isn't based on income and doesn't cost anything so any child can take advantage of this quality program at no cost. I hope to see public opinion that wants this for all children, not just those in poverty. The change in public opinion will influence early childhood education because they will be interested in and supporting that all children will have access to early care programs regardless of their ability to pay.