VENANGO CO., Pa. (EYT) — Child Development Centers, Inc. (CDC) will hold registration this month for its Head Start, Pre-K Counts, and Preschool programs for the 2018-2019 school year that will begin in September.

Registration is set from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. as follows:

– Wednesday, April 11, Seventh Street Head Start, 702 Liberty Street, Franklin.
– Wednesday, April 18, Grant Street Child Development Center, 701 East Third Street, Oil City.
– Wednesday, April 25 (Head Start only), Willow Child Development Center, 15438 State Highway 86, Meadville.

Registration is for children who will reach their third or fourth birthday by August 1, 2018.

Families who wish to register their children are asked to bring proof of income, the child’s birth certificate, and medical/immunization records.

Families can register children during the upcoming sessions for any of CDC’s Head Start locations in Venango and Crawford Counties or for any of its Pre-K Counts or Preschool sites in Venango County, and not just for those facilities where registration will be held.

If a child already attends Head Start, Pre-K Counts, or Preschool at CDC, it is not necessary for the family to enroll again for next school year. Current students who will attend again starting in September automatically will be enrolled for 2018-2019.

Here is more information about each pre-kindergarten learning program that CDC offers:

Head Start

Head Start is the federal government’s free preschool program for children from low-income households. Head Start at CDC is a full-day, school year program that is intended to prepare children for a successful transition to kindergarten and elementary school.

In addition to early childhood education, Head Start offers a number of other services that support the children’s health and development and family well-being. With some limited exceptions, a family’s income must be at or below the federal poverty level – currently $25,100.00 for a family of four – for children to enroll in Head Start.

CDC offers Head Start at multiple locations in Venango and Crawford Counties.

Pre-K Counts

This full-day, school year program also is intended to give children an early educational boost that will help them to make a successful transition to kindergarten and beyond.

Pre-K Counts focuses on reading and math skills, social and school readiness skills, following directions, and getting along with fellow students and teachers. There also is an emphasis on developing an interest in learning and involving the family in the child’s education.

CDC offers Pre-K Counts at its Hasson Heights, Franklin School-Age, and Cranberry Centers, and a Pre-K Counts class also is available at Franklin YMCA. Grant funding covers all costs of Pre-K Counts, which is open to families with incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

Preschool

CDC also offers a preschool program that is identical to Pre-K Counts but has no income eligibility guidelines. Tuition fees are based on three, four, or five days of enrollment per week. Preschool classes are available at CDC’s Oil City, Franklin School-Age, and Cranberry Centers.

Families can learn more about any of these programs by contacting Becky Loeffert at CDC, 814-518-5309 or bloeffert@cdcenters.org.