The federal Head Start program provides low-income, preschool age children and their families with early childhood education and health and family support services. The program emphasizes cognitive, language and socio-emotional development to enable each child to function at his or her highest potential. Head Start engages parents in their children's learning and in program decision-making.

Description:
Tacoma Head Start serves 563 children during the school year in 30 classrooms at 16 school sites. Class times are from 8:45 am to 12:45 pm, Monday through Friday. Each classroom of 20 children has two full time staff and one part time staff to carry out the early childhood program. Children are assessed three times a year to determine areas of strength and needed growth. Curriculum and learning opportunities are then planned to match individual needs. In the afternoon staff plan curriculum, prepare for parent education meetings and respond to parent requests for health and family resources.

History:
Tacoma Head Start is one of the oldest programs in the country having begun in 1967. In 2003 and again in 2006, the Federal Review Teams found the agency to be in full compliance with all regulations and praised staff for "raising the bar" in the quality of Head Start services. We continue to strive to offer meaningful, enriching services.

Contact people:

Alisa Poh, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone) Carolyn Lewis, Head Start Director, (phone), (email)

Address:

3102 S 43rd St Tacoma, WA 98409 (See a map)

Directions:

The Head Start Administration Office is located in Madison School which is just to the west of the Tacoma Mall. To drive to Madison,exit I-5 at So. 38th to go west. At Pine Street turn left and go south. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Tacoma Mall, 15 minute walk