What is Head Start?
Head Start is a Federally funded, early childhood education program that started in the summer of 1965 as an eight week summer program. Over the years the program has grown and changed into a comprehensive early learning program that addresses education, nutrition, health, and social service needs of low income children ages 3-5 and their families. The program is free for those that qualify. Eligibility is determined by local selection criteria as well as the Federal Poverty Guidelines and other factors. McDowell County Head Start has been a part of McDowell County Schools since 1965.
What is Early Head Start?
Early Head Start is the infant/toddler program modeled after Head Start to serve low income pregnant mothers, infants, and toddlers the same way that Head Start serves preschoolers and their families. Early Head Start was created in 1995. The program is free for those that qualify. Eligibility is determined by local selection criteria as well as the Federal Poverty Guidelines and other factors. McDowell County Early Head Start has been a part of McDowell County Schools since 1995.
Our Mission Statement
To provide high quality, comprehensive preschool services for children zero to five that will serve the needs of family and community and prepare children for entry to public school.
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This website is supported by Grant Number 04CH012076 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of McDowell County Head Start and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.
McDowell County Schools Notice of Parental Rights
The McDowell County Board of Education values parental involvement and respects the rights of parents in the education and upbringing of their children. North Carolina General Statute §115C-76.25 provides a list of parental rights. Pre-existing Board Policy addresses many of these rights. Future changes in Board Policy to address these rights will be added to this notice. Citations to existing Board policies on the same subject matter are included below.
a. The right to consent or withhold consent for participation in reproductive healthand safety education programs, consistent with the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 115C-81.30. Board Policy 3540.
b. The right to seek a medical or religious exemption from immunizationrequirements, consistent with the requirements of N.C.G.S. §§ G.S. 130A-156 and 130A-157. Board Policy 4110.
c. The right to review statewide standardized assessment results as part of the Statereport card. Board Policies 1310/4002.
d. The right to request an evaluation of their child for an academically or intellectually gifted program, or for identification as a child with a disability, as provided in Article 9 of Chapter 115C of the North Carolina General Statutes. Board Policies 1310/4002 and 3520.
e. The right to inspect and purchase public school unit textbooks and other supplementary instructional materials, as provided in Part 3 of Article 8 of 21 Chapter 115C of the North Carolina General Statutes. Board Policy 3210.
f. The right to access information relating to the Board's policies for promotion or retention, including high school graduation requirements. Board Policies 1310/4002.
g. The right to receive student report cards on a regular basis that clearly depict and grade the student's academic performance in each class or course, the student's conduct, and the student's attendance.
h. The right to access information relating to the State public education system, State standards, report card requirements, attendance requirements, and textbook requirements. Board Policies 1310/4002.
i. The right to participate in parent-teacher organizations. Board Policy 5010.
j. The right to opt-in to certain data collection for their child, as provided in N.C.G.S. § 115C-76.65. Board Policy 4720.
k. The right for students to participate in protected student information surveys only with parental consent, as provided in N.C.G.S. § 115C-76.65. Board Policies 4720.
l. The right to review all available records of materials their child has borrowed from a school library as set forth in Board Policy 3210.