Bronx charter school expands Head Start access amid federal program overhaul concerns
The Trump administration announced it would overhaul the long-standing program, which serves babies and toddlers who come from low-income households, foster care or homeless families.
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More children in the Bronx will now have the chance to get into the classroom earlier thanks to a federal grant for the Head Start early childhood education program. Meanwhile, the program faces questions after the Trump administration announced plans in August for an overhaul.
Young Raya, 4, shares what she likes about being newly enrolled in an early childhood education program.
“My favorite part is playing with my friends,” Raya says
She and her friends are part of the 230 seats in DREAM charter school’s new program for toddlers, which comes after the federal government gave a $28 million Head Start grant to the tuition-free public charter school.
“All levels of government really have to participate in what we feel are needs for this community," says city council member Elsie Encarnacion, who represents parts of the Bronx. "This is a huge need for this community. It really helps families grow.”
This comes as the Head Start program faces some uncertainty.
RELATED: Head Start Program Faces Uncertainty As Trump Administration Prepares Announcement
In August, the Trump administration announced it would overhaul the long-standing program, which serves babies and toddlers who come from low-income households, foster care or homeless families.
The federal government is planning to eliminate most of the program’s regulations, like small staff-to-student ratios and services including medical and dental screenings, while Head Start advocates say these regulations make the program distinct.
The Bronx borough president says she will work to defend Head Start.
“We will fight, we will advocate, we will legislate, we will litigate," Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson told News 12. "We will do everything we can to fight and protect our social safety net programs.”
Each year the school plans to serve 170 3- to 4-year-olds in classrooms at its Mott Haven and Kingsbridge campuses. Sixty children up to 2 years old will receive home-based learning visits. A third campus in East Harlem is set to open in January.
“The earlier you start with children, the younger that they are in school, the more traction you can make earlier," says Eve Colavito, the Co-CEO of DREAM. "And the more their achievement can be accelerated.”
