Jan. 4, 2017 (Washington, D.C.) -- The Office of Head Start announced Tuesday that it will distribute $290 million to 665 Head Start and Early Head Start programs around the country that they can use to expand their full school day and year offerings. Congress appropriated the supplemental funding in a fiscal 2016 budget bill for the federal preschool program for children from low-income families, and the money is now part of Head Start's base funding, subject to congressional approval. The $…

Most of the parents of the students at Sergio Rodriguez’s early childhood care facility work as migrant farm laborers in fields and orchards in Kent and Montcalm counties during the growing season. And even though they are exposed to all sorts of fresh produce, their kids know very little about the fresh fruits and vegetables they harvest, much less the benefits that eating these foods have for their growing bodies and minds, Rodriguez says.  "They (the parents) work long days, sometimes 12…

  Total investment increases to over $11 million over five years and expands geographic reach  Detroit – The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan today announced that the Head Start Innovation Fund Collaborative (Innovation Fund) will invest an additional nearly $6.2 million to support innovation and high-quality programs and services at local Head Start agencies serving thousands of young children and their families. This funding brings the total support for Head Start and Early Head…

  ALKER, MICH. - Some lucky children in the Walker area have a unique opportunity to learn what it's like to be a real life meteorologist -- just like the ones they see on TV. Head Start for Kent County in Walker built a replica mini WZZM 13 On Target Weather Deck. The idea is to give kids at the Head Start program an educational play area, centered around weather, but in a way that's fun for that age group. The mini 13 On Target Weather Deck is complete with a weather wall with magnetic…