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HEAD START/ECEAP/EARLY HEAD START
WELCOME!
The Institute for Extended Learning at the Community Colleges of Spokane operates the federal Head Start/Early Head Start at eleven centers in the city limits, though service is available for all eligible Spokane County residents and students of CCS. These are child development programs for prenatal to age five children, primarily from low-income families.
The IEL also contracts with five school districts and five local non-profit agencies to provide state ECEAP preschool programs.
Please browse our website and contact us if you need assistance or more information.
What is Head Start/Early Head Start?
Head Start is a federally funded family involvement education program for low-income families with young children from six weeks to age five (pre-kindergarten).
It is a child development program that provides early childhood education classrooms for children four or five days a week. In addition, there are meals and snacks, health services, and other services for the family. Parents are actively involved in all areas at their centers.
Early Head Start also offers home-based services for families during pregnancy and those with infants and toddlers up to age three. Parents and children participate in weekly home visits and classroom play sessions twice a month.
What is ECEAP?
The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) is a whole-child, family-focused preschool program designed to help low-income and at-risk children and their families succeed in school and life. ECEAP is funded by the State of Washington. Because many factors affect a child’s learning ability and development, ECEAP has four interactive components:
- Education
- Health and Nutrition
- Family Support
- Parent Involvement
Services Include
- Learning in a preschool setting
- Health screening and assistance with follow-up medical and dental care Healthy snacks and meals
- Family support including help accessing resources and social service
Who is eligible?
For Head Start and Early Head Start, the total gross family income must be less than 100 percent of federal poverty guidelines. For ECEAP, it is 130 percent of the poverty level.
Ten percent of enrolled children may be over income if they have diagnosed disabilities or other special needs. Preschool classrooms give priority to children who are age four by August 31 of the school year. A minimum of ten percent of children enrolled may have diagnosed disabilities. Children with disabilities are welcome at all sites.
How much does it cost?
There is no charge for Head Start, ECEAP and Early Head Start services; however, the sites that provide full day childcare charge a fee for services. Call for more information.